Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒
Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018
or
☐
Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from                  to                 
Commission file number: 1-15259
ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Bermuda
 
98-0214719
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
 
110 Pitts Bay Road
Pembroke HM08
Bermuda
 
P.O. Box HM 1282
Hamilton HM FX
Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Mailing address)
(441) 296-5858
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer  ☒
Accelerated filer  ☐
Non-accelerated filer  ☐
Smaller reporting company  ☐
Emerging growth company  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark whether 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.    ☐
Indicate the number of shares outstanding (net of treasury shares) of each of the issuer’s classes of common shares as of November 1, 2018 .
Title
Outstanding
Common Shares, par value $1.00 per share
33,891,236

Table of Contents

ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
INDEX
 
 
 
Page
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 5.
Item 6.
 


2
Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements
ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions, except number of shares and per share amounts)
 
 
 
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017 *
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities available-for-sale, at fair value (cost: 2018 - $3,496.5; 2017 - $3,320.6)
 
$
3,456.2

 
$
3,343.4

Equity securities, at fair value (cost: 2018 - $358.6; 2017 - $338.2)
 
486.5

 
487.4

Other investments (cost: 2018 - $477.8; 2017 - $534.1)
 
487.5

 
543.6

Short-term investments, at fair value (cost: 2018 - $434.5; 2017 - $368.5)
 
434.5

 
368.5

Total investments
 
4,864.7

 
4,742.9

Cash
 
118.5

 
176.6

Accrued investment income
 
26.3

 
23.5

Premiums receivable
 
708.9

 
598.6

Reinsurance recoverables
 
2,208.2

 
2,093.3

Goodwill
 
161.4

 
161.4

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization
 
110.5

 
96.8

Current income taxes receivable, net
 
—

 
1.4

Deferred acquisition costs, net
 
174.6

 
160.4

Ceded unearned premiums
 
515.6

 
399.5

Other assets
 
391.0

 
309.6

Total assets
 
$
9,279.7

 
$
8,764.0

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
Reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
$
4,291.7

 
$
4,201.0

Unearned premiums
 
1,387.5

 
1,207.7

Accrued underwriting expenses
 
122.6

 
115.3

Ceded reinsurance payable, net
 
885.4

 
734.0

Funds held
 
38.8

 
42.7

Senior unsecured fixed rate notes
 
139.8

 
139.6

Other indebtedness
 
183.9

 
184.5

Junior subordinated debentures
 
256.9

 
256.6

Current income taxes payable, net
 
8.1

 
—

Deferred tax liabilities, net
 
14.0

 
31.3

Other liabilities
 
132.9

 
31.6

Total liabilities
 
7,461.6

 
6,944.3

Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
 
 
 
 
Shareholders' equity:
 
 
 
 
Common shares - $1.00 par, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 45,188,722 and 40,385,309 shares issued at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
 
45.2

 
40.4

Additional paid-in capital
 
1,368.7

 
1,129.1

Treasury shares (11,285,996 and 10,785,007 shares at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
 
(453.4
)
 
(423.4
)
Retained earnings
 
915.7

 
977.0

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes
 
(58.1
)
 
96.6

Total shareholders' equity
 
1,818.1

 
1,819.7

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 
$
9,279.7

 
$
8,764.0

*    Derived from audited consolidated financial statements.  
See accompanying notes.

3
Table of Contents

ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)
(in millions, except number of shares and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Premiums and other revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earned premiums
 
$
446.9

 
$
389.3

 
$
1,279.3

 
$
1,167.8

Net investment income
 
34.5

 
30.9

 
103.7

 
105.0

Fee and other income
 
3.3

 
13.0

 
7.2

 
20.4

Net realized investment gains (losses):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized investment gains
 
9.7

 
6.0

 
31.1

 
25.1

Change in fair value of equity securities
 
4.5

 
—

 
(22.1
)
 
—

Net realized investment gains
 
14.2

 
6.0

 
9.0

 
25.1

Total revenue
 
498.9

 
439.2

 
1,399.2

 
1,318.3

Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
277.5

 
326.4

 
760.2

 
779.5

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses
 
168.0

 
166.1

 
485.0

 
474.4

Interest expense
 
7.9

 
7.5

 
23.4

 
20.4

Fee and other expense
 
1.9

 
5.0

 
5.5

 
12.4

Foreign currency exchange (gains) losses
 
(1.7
)
 
0.1

 
(2.3
)
 
4.0

Total expenses
 
453.6

 
505.1

 
1,271.8

 
1,290.7

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
45.3

 
(65.9
)
 
127.4

 
27.6

Income tax provision (benefit)
 
4.7

 
(4.6
)
 
20.2

 
6.2

Net income (loss)
 
$
40.6

 
$
(61.3
)
 
$
107.2

 
$
21.4

Net income (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
1.20

 
$
(1.78
)
 
$
3.16

 
$
0.62

Diluted
 
$
1.17

 
$
(1.78
)
 
$
3.09

 
$
0.60

Dividend declared per common share
 
$
0.27

 
$
0.23

 
$
0.81

 
$
0.70

Weighted average common shares:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
33,956,695

 
34,475,452

 
33,921,632

 
34,586,931

Diluted
 
34,656,328

 
34,475,452

 
34,688,843

 
35,527,173

 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net realized investment gains before
other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
$
14.2

 
$
6.2

 
$
10.9

 
$
26.8

Other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities
 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
(1.9
)
 
(0.1
)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on equity securities
 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
—

 
(1.6
)
Impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
—

 
(0.2
)
 
(1.9
)
 
(1.7
)
Net realized investment gains
 
$
14.2

 
$
6.0

 
$
9.0

 
$
25.1

 
See accompanying notes.

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Table of Contents

ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net income (loss)
 
$
40.6

 
$
(61.3
)
 
$
107.2

 
$
21.4

Other comprehensive (loss) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
(0.8
)
 
0.4

 
(4.8
)
 
(0.2
)
Unrealized (losses) gains on securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Losses) gains arising during the year
 
(2.4
)
 
38.5

 
(63.8
)
 
100.1

Reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) included in net income
 
(2.4
)
 
(17.4
)
 
0.2

 
(36.3
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before tax
 
(5.6
)
 
21.5

 
(68.4
)
 
63.6

Income tax provision related to other comprehensive (loss) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized (losses) gains on securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Losses) gains arising during the year
 
(1.1
)
 
10.1

 
(10.4
)
 
26.0

Reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) included in net income
 
(0.3
)
 
(5.5
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(11.7
)
Income tax (benefit) provision related to other comprehensive income
 
(1.4
)
 
4.6

 
(10.5
)
 
14.3

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
 
(4.2
)
 
16.9

 
(57.9
)
 
49.3

Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
36.4

 
$
(44.4
)
 
$
49.3

 
$
70.7

 
See accompanying notes.


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Table of Contents

ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in millions, except number of shares and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Common
Shares
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Treasury
Shares
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Shareholders'
Equity
Balance, December 31, 2016
 
$
40.0

 
$
1,123.3

 
$
(378.2
)
 
$
959.9

 
$
47.7

 
$
1,792.7

Net income
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
21.4

 
—

 
21.4

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
49.3

 
49.3

Repurchase of common shares (612,034 at a weighted average price of $59.75)
 
—

 
—

 
(36.6
)
 
—

 
—

 
(36.6
)
Activity under stock incentive plans
 
0.4

 
11.3

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
11.7

Retirement of common shares (tax payments on equity compensation)
 
(0.1
)
 
(6.7
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(6.8
)
Employee stock purchase plan
 
—

 
1.2

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1.2

Cash dividend declared - common shares ($0.70/share)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(24.9
)
 
—

 
(24.9
)
Balance, September 30, 2017
 
$
40.3

 
$
1,129.1

 
$
(414.8
)
 
$
956.4

 
$
97.0

 
$
1,808.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, December 31, 2017
 
$
40.4

 
$
1,129.1

 
$
(423.4
)
 
$
977.0

 
$
96.6

 
$
1,819.7

Net income
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
107.2

 
—

 
107.2

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
 
—

 

 
—

 
—

 
(57.9
)
 
(57.9
)
Repurchase of common shares (500,989 at a weighted average price of $59.83)
 
—

 
—

 
(30.0
)
 
—

 
—

 
(30.0
)
Activity under stock incentive plans
 
0.5

 
12.2

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
12.7

Retirement of common shares (tax payments on equity compensation)
 
(0.1
)
 
(6.9
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(7.0
)
Employee stock purchase plan
 
—

 
1.4

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1.4

15% Stock Dividend
 
4.4

 
232.9

 
—

 
(237.3
)
 
—

 
—

Cash dividend declared - common shares ($0.81/share)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(28.0
)
 
—

 
(28.0
)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-01, net of taxes
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
117.5

 
(117.5
)
 
—

Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2018-02, net of taxes
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(20.7
)
 
20.7

 
—

Balance, September 30, 2018
 
$
45.2

 
$
1,368.7

 
$
(453.4
)
 
$
915.7

 
$
(58.1
)
 
$
1,818.1


See accompanying notes.


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Table of Contents

ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
  
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
107.2

 
$
21.4

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Amortization and depreciation
 
23.1

 
24.4

Share-based payments expense
 
14.4

 
11.2

Deferred income tax benefit, net
 
(7.4
)
 
(6.4
)
Net realized investment gains
 
(9.0
)
 
(25.1
)
Undistributed earnings from alternative investment portfolio
 
(20.7
)
 
(38.6
)
Loss on disposals of fixed assets, net
 
—

 
1.4

Change in:
 
 
 
 
Accrued investment income
 
(2.7
)
 
(2.7
)
Receivables
 
(148.5
)
 
(690.9
)
Deferred acquisition costs
 
(15.2
)
 
(19.7
)
Ceded unearned premiums
 
(114.6
)
 
(65.8
)
Reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
(19.2
)
 
756.5

Unearned premiums
 
179.4

 
162.5

Ceded reinsurance payable and funds held
 
151.3

 
179.7

Income taxes
 
8.8

 
3.5

Accrued underwriting expenses
 
(1.0
)
 
(42.5
)
Other, net
 
85.1

 
(16.5
)
Cash provided by operating activities
 
231.0

 
252.4

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Sales of fixed maturity investments
 
1,158.6

 
1,069.7

Maturities and mandatory calls of fixed maturity investments
 
375.1

 
493.2

Sales of equity securities
 
165.0

 
140.0

Sales of other investments
 
93.6

 
68.3

Purchases of fixed maturity investments
 
(1,787.0
)
 
(1,916.9
)
Purchases of equity securities
 
(156.0
)
 
(118.1
)
Purchases of other investments
 
(34.2
)
 
(25.2
)
Change in foreign regulatory deposits and voluntary pools
 
13.4

 
(27.2
)
Change in short-term investments
 
(47.2
)
 
291.4

Settlements of foreign currency exchange forward contracts
 
2.0

 
—

Acquisition of Maybrooke, net of cash acquired
 
—

 
(105.2
)
Cash acquired with acquisition of Ariscom
 
15.6

 
—

Purchases of fixed assets
 
(35.8
)
 
(20.4
)
Other, net
 
3.6

 
(15.6
)
Cash used in investing activities
 
(233.3
)
 
(166.0
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Additional long-term borrowings
 
—

 
125.0

Activity under stock incentive plans
 
1.0

 
0.9

Repurchase of Company's common shares
 
(30.0
)
 
(36.6
)
Payment of cash dividends to common shareholders
 
(28.0
)
 
(24.9
)
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities
 
(57.0
)
 
64.4

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
 
1.2

 
(1.0
)
Change in cash
 
(58.1
)
 
149.8

Cash, beginning of year
 
176.6

 
86.0

Cash, end of period
 
$
118.5

 
$
235.8

 
See accompanying notes.

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Table of Contents

ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
 
1.      Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (“Argo Group,” “we” or the “Company”) and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The preparation of interim financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The major estimates reflected in our consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses; reinsurance recoverables, including the reinsurance recoverables allowance for doubtful accounts; estimates of written and earned premiums; reinsurance premium receivable; fair value of investments and assessment of potential impairment; valuation of goodwill and intangibles and our deferred tax asset valuation allowance. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain financial information that normally is included in annual financial statements, including certain financial statement footnotes, prepared in accordance with GAAP, is not required for interim reporting purposes and has been condensed or omitted. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 , filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2018.
Effective March 5, 2018 , we acquired 100% of the capital stock of Ariscom Compagnia di Assicurazioni S.p.A. (“Ariscom”) upon its release from extraordinary administration by the Italian insurance supervisory authority (“IVASS”). The acquisition is being accounted for in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, “Business Combinations.” See Note 3, “Acquisition of Ariscom,” for additional discussion regarding the acquisition. The Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements reflect the consolidated results of Argo Group and Ariscom commencing on the date of acquisition.
The interim financial information as of, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 is unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, the interim information includes all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of the results presented for the interim periods. The operating results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. All significant intercompany amounts have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to financial information presented for prior years to conform to the current year’s presentation.
 
15% Stock Dividend
 
On February 20, 2018 , our Board of Directors declared at 15% stock dividend, payable on March 21, 2018 , to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 7, 2018 . As a result of the stock dividend, 4,397,520 additional shares were issued. Cash was paid in lieu of fractional shares of our common shares. Excluding repurchased shares, all references to common shares associated with the recalculation of per share amounts in this document and related disclosures have been adjusted to reflect the stock dividend for all periods presented.
 
2.      Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
On August 28, 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2018-13, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820)." ASU 2018-13 eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within the year of adoption. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty are applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year adoption. All other amendments are applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of the ASU will have on our financial disclosures.
On February 14, 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-2, “Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” that allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") to retained earnings of the stranded tax effects in AOCI resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”). Current guidance required the effect of a change in tax laws or rates on deferred tax balances to be reported in income from continuing operations in the accounting period that includes the period of enactment, even if the related income tax effects were originally charged or credited directly to AOCI. The amount of the reclassification would include the effect of the change in the US federal corporate income tax rate on the gross deferred tax amounts and related valuation allowances, if any, at the date of the enactment of TCJA related to items in AOCI. The updated guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and is to be applied retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the TCJA related to items

8

remaining in AOCI are recognized or at the beginning of the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. We have adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU does not affect the Company’s results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. As a result of adopting this ASU, we reclassified $20.7 million of previously recognized deferred taxes from accumulated other comprehensive income into retained earnings as of January 1, 2018.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (Topic 230).” ASU 2016-15 will reduce diversity in practice on how eight specific cash receipts and payments are classified on the statement of cash flows. The ASU was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within the year of adoption. This ASU will have an impact on how we present the distributions received from equity method investees in our statement of cash flows. We have adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018. This ASU did not have a material impact on the classification of specific cash receipts and payments within the cash flow statement.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (Topic 326). ASU 2016-13 requires organizations to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including receivables and available-for-sale debt securities, by introducing an approach based on expected losses. The expected loss approach will require entities to incorporate considerations of historical information, current information and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within the year of adoption. The guidance requires a modified retrospective transition method and early adoption is permitted. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of the ASU will have on our financial results and disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2, “Leases” (Topic 842). ASU 2016-2 requires organizations that lease assets to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. Additionally, the ASU modifies current guidance for lessors' accounting. In July 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-11 (ASU 2018-11): Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which provides for an alternative transition method by allowing entities to initially apply the new leases standard at the adoption date (such as January 1, 2019) and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption (comparative periods presented in the financial statements will continue to be in accordance with current GAAP (Topic 840, Leases)). The standard will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with earlier application permitted.

We have entered into operating leases for office space and certain other assets.  We will adopt the new standard on the effective date of January 1, 2019, using a modified retrospective approach as permitted under ASU 2018-11. We continue to execute a project plan, which includes contract review and assessment, data collection, and evaluation of our systems, processes and internal controls. In addition, we are implementing a new lease accounting software which will facilitate the adoption of this standard.  We have also engaged a third party to assist with the implementation of this standard.   Although we continue to assess the impact of the standard on our consolidated financial statements, we believe adoption and implementation will result in an increase to assets and liabilities, as well as additional disclosures. We do not expect a material impact on our consolidated statement of income or cash flows.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-1, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (Subtopic 825-10). ASU 2016-1 requires equity investments that are not consolidated or accounted for under the equity method of accounting to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. This ASU also requires us to assess the ability to realize our deferred tax assets related to an available-for-sale debt security in combination with our other deferred tax assets. The ASU was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We have adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018. Upon adoption of this ASU, cumulative net unrealized gain on equity securities of $117.5 million , net of deferred income taxes, were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into retained earnings as of January 1, 2018. The change in the fair value of the noted investments is now included in “Net realized investment gains” in our consolidated statements of income. The standard increases the volatility of the results reported in our consolidated statements of income, resulting from the remeasurement of our equity investments.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-9, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606), which replaces most existing U.S. GAAP revenue recognition guidance and permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, “Deferral of the Effective Date” (Topic 606), deferred the effective date of this guidance to interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Subsequently, in 2016, the FASB issued implementation guidance related to ASU 2014-9, including:
 
•
ASU 2016-8, “Principal versus Agent considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)” (Topic 606), which is intended to provide further clarification on the application of the principal versus agent implementations;
•
ASU 2016-10, “Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing” (Topic 606), which is intended to clarify the guidance for identifying promised goods or service in a contract with a customer;

9

•
ASU 2016-11, “Rescission of SEC Guidance Because of Accounting Standards Updates 2014-9 and 2014-16 Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the March 3, 2016 EITF Meeting” (Topics 605 & 815);
•
ASU 2016-12, “Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients” (Topic 606), provides additional guidance for quantitative and qualitative disclosures in certain cases, and makes 12 additional technical corrections and improvements to the new revenue standard.
We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial results.
 
3.    Acquisition of Ariscom
Effective March 5, 2018 , we acquired 100% of the capital stock of Ariscom upon its release from extraordinary administration by IVASS. We injected an amount of capital into Ariscom necessary to meet certain regulatory requirements and thresholds. As part of this capital infusion, we have become the sole shareholder of Ariscom.
The acquisition provides Argo Group with an in-market Italian insurance platform and access to Ariscom’s broker and client network throughout Italy, with longer-term opportunities to expand our presence in continental Europe, particularly Spain and Portugal.
The acquisition is being accounted for in accordance with ASC 805, “Business Combinations.” Purchase accounting, as defined by ASC 805, requires that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their fair values as of the acquisition date. We are in the process of finalizing our determination of fair values, including an independent appraisal of certain assets and liabilities, including intangible assets. We anticipate closing the fair value measurement period by the end of 2018. Ariscom’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows were not material to our consolidated financial results as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 .

4.      Investments
Included in “Total investments” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is $139.9 million and $130.8 million , respectively, of assets managed on behalf of the trade capital providers, who are third-party participants that provide underwriting capital to the operations of Syndicate 1200.
Fixed Maturities
The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value in fixed maturity investments were as follows:
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Governments
 
$
288.8

 
$
0.1

 
$
8.1

 
$
280.8

Foreign Governments
 
267.6

 
2.8

 
4.3

 
266.1

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
 
241.6

 
3.8

 
2.4

 
243.0

Corporate bonds
 
1,713.7

 
11.8

 
29.5

 
1,696.0

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
160.3

 
—

 
3.3

 
157.0

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
390.2

 
1.7

 
12.0

 
379.9

Asset-backed securities
 
174.5

 
0.2

 
1.3

 
173.4

Collateralized loan obligations
 
259.8

 
1.3

 
1.1

 
260.0

Total fixed maturities
 
$
3,496.5

 
$
21.7

 
$
62.0

 
$
3,456.2


10

December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Governments
 
$
419.9

 
$
0.2

 
$
5.0

 
$
415.1

Foreign Governments
 
229.0

 
6.7

 
2.5

 
233.2

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
 
327.7

 
9.3

 
1.1

 
335.9

Corporate bonds
 
1,514.5

 
24.4

 
13.2

 
1,525.7

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
136.3

 
0.1

 
1.5

 
134.9

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
309.3

 
2.8

 
2.7

 
309.4

Asset-backed securities
 
161.3

 
0.7

 
0.8

 
161.2

Collateralized loan obligations
 
222.6

 
5.9

 
0.5

 
228.0

Total fixed maturities
 
$
3,320.6

 
$
50.1

 
$
27.3

 
$
3,343.4

Contractual Maturity
The amortized cost and fair values of fixed maturity investments as of September 30, 2018 , by contractual maturity, were as follows:
(in millions)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
Due in one year or less
 
$
251.2

 
$
250.8

Due after one year through five years
 
1,522.2

 
1,508.3

Due after five years through ten years
 
586.4

 
575.7

Thereafter
 
151.9

 
151.1

Structured securities
 
984.8

 
970.3

Total
 
$
3,496.5

 
$
3,456.2

The expected maturities may differ from the contractual maturities because debtors may have the right to call or prepay obligations.
Other Investments
Details regarding the carrying value and unfunded investment commitments of other investments as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
 
Carrying
Value
 
Unfunded
Commitments
Investment Type
 
 
 
 
Hedge funds
 
$
126.2

 
$
—

Private equity
 
203.6

 
118.0

Long only funds
 
153.4

 
—

Other
 
4.3

 
—

Total other investments
 
$
487.5

 
$
118.0


11

December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
 
Carrying
Value
 
Unfunded
Commitments
Investment Type
 
 
 
 
Hedge funds
 
$
163.6

 
$
—

Private equity
 
179.2

 
129.9

Long only funds
 
196.5

 
—

Other
 
4.3

 
—

Total other investments
 
$
543.6

 
$
129.9

The following describes each investment type:
•
Hedge funds: Hedge funds include funds that primarily buy and sell stocks, including short sales, multi-strategy credit, relative value credit and distressed credit.
•
Private equity: Private equity includes buyout funds, real asset/infrastructure funds, credit special situations funds, mezzanine lending funds and direct investments and strategic non-controlling minority investments in private companies that are principally accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
•
Long only funds: Our long only funds include a fund that primarily owns international stocks and funds that primarily own investment-grade corporate and sovereign fixed income securities.  
•
Other: Other includes participation in investment pools.
Unrealized Losses and Other-Than-Temporary Impairments
An aging of unrealized losses on our investments in fixed maturities is presented below:
September 30, 2018
 
Less Than One Year
 
One Year or Greater
 
Total
(in millions)
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Governments
 
$
260.0

 
$
7.2

 
$
17.1

 
$
0.9

 
$
277.1

 
$
8.1

Foreign Governments
 
229.5

 
4.2

 
5.0

 
0.1

 
234.5

 
4.3

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
 
76.0

 
1.6

 
14.4

 
0.8

 
90.4

 
2.4

Corporate bonds
 
1,234.1

 
27.6

 
23.1

 
1.9

 
1,257.2

 
29.5

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
133.1

 
2.3

 
15.7

 
1.0

 
148.8

 
3.3

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
317.6

 
11.3

 
13.6

 
0.7

 
331.2

 
12.0

Asset-backed securities
 
141.9

 
1.0

 
6.3

 
0.3

 
148.2

 
1.3

Collateralized loan obligations
 
192.7

 
1.1

 
—

 
—

 
192.7

 
1.1

Total fixed maturities
 
$
2,584.9

 
$
56.3

 
$
95.2

 
$
5.7

 
$
2,680.1

 
$
62.0

December 31, 2017
 
Less Than One Year
 
One Year or Greater
 
Total
(in millions)
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Governments
 
$
313.7

 
$
1.9

 
$
83.7

 
$
3.1

 
$
397.4

 
$
5.0

Foreign Governments
 
175.2

 
2.0

 
35.9

 
0.5

 
211.1

 
2.5

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
 
33.3

 
0.5

 
22.4

 
0.6

 
55.7

 
1.1

Corporate bonds
 
674.1

 
9.9

 
77.7

 
3.3

 
751.8

 
13.2

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
58.2

 
0.4

 
37.8

 
1.1

 
96.0

 
1.5

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
164.4

 
1.6

 
52.4

 
1.1

 
216.8

 
2.7

Asset-backed securities
 
85.4

 
0.4

 
31.9

 
0.4

 
117.3

 
0.8

Collateralized loan obligations (1)
 
34.6

 
0.5

 
0.9

 
—

 
35.5

 
0.5

Total fixed maturities
 
$
1,538.9

 
$
17.2

 
$
342.7

 
$
10.1

 
$
1,881.6

 
$
27.3


12

(1)  
Unrealized losses one year or greater are less than $0.1 million .
We regularly evaluate our investments for other-than-temporary impairment. For fixed maturity securities, the evaluation for a credit loss is generally based on the present value of expected cash flows of the security as compared to the amortized book value. For structured securities, frequency and severity of loss inputs are used in projecting future cash flows of the securities. Loss frequency is measured as the credit default rate, which includes such factors as loan-to-value ratios and credit scores of borrowers. We also recognize other-than-temporary losses on fixed maturity securities that we intend to sell. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-1. As a result, changes in the fair value of equity securities are recognized in net realized investment gains in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
We hold a total of 8,864 securities, of which  3,437 were in an unrealized loss position for less than one year and 105 were in an unrealized loss position for a period one year or greater as of September 30, 2018 . Unrealized losses greater than twelve months on fixed maturities were the result of a number of factors, including increased credit spreads, foreign currency fluctuations and higher market yields relative to the date the securities were purchased, and for structured securities, by the performance of the underlying collateral, as well. In considering whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired or not, we also considered that we do not intend to sell the investments and it is unlikely that we will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be maturity. We do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2018 .
We recognized other-than-temporary losses on our fixed maturities and equity portfolio as follows:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Other-than-temporary impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
 
$
—

 
$
(0.1
)
 
$
(1.9
)
 
$
(0.1
)
Equity securities
 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
—

 
(1.6
)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
$
—

 
$
(0.2
)
 
$
(1.9
)
 
$
(1.7
)
Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses
The following table presents our gross realized investment gains (losses):

13

 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Realized gains on fixed maturities and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
$
4.6

 
$
6.3

 
$
15.8

 
$
18.9

Equity securities (1)
 
—

 
9.4

 
—

 
37.1

Other and short-term investments
 
7.6

 
7.2

 
34.9

 
18.5

 
 
12.2

 
22.9

 
50.7

 
74.5

Realized losses on fixed maturities and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
(2.8
)
 
(4.8
)
 
(14.2
)
 
(16.0
)
Equity securities (1)
 
—

 
(1.4
)
 
—

 
(3.9
)
Other and short-term investments
 
(8.8
)
 
(10.5
)
 
(34.4
)
 
(27.8
)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities
 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
(1.9
)
 
(0.1
)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on equity securities
 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
—

 
(1.6
)
 
 
(11.6
)
 
(16.9
)
 
(50.5
)
 
(49.4
)
Equity securities (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized gains on equity securities sold during the period
 
9.1

 
—

 
30.9

 
—

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities held at the end of the period
 
4.5

 
—

 
(22.1
)
 
—

Net realized gains on equity securities
 
13.6

 
—

 
8.8

 
—

Net realized investment gains before income taxes
 
14.2

 
6.0

 
9.0

 
25.1

Income tax expense
 
(3.3
)
 
(2.2
)
 
(2.8
)
 
(7.9
)
Net realized investment gains, net of income taxes
 
$
10.9

 
$
3.8

 
$
6.2

 
$
17.2

(1)
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2016-1. As a result, unrealized gains (losses) at the date of adoption have been reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Additionally, all changes in the fair value of equity securities are recognized in net realized investment gains (losses). Prior periods have not been restated to conform to the current presentation. See Note 2, "Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements."
The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.
Changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) related to investments are summarized as follows:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Change in unrealized (losses) gains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
$
(4.3
)
 
$
9.5

 
$
(63.2
)
 
$
41.6

Equity securities
 
—

 
11.7

 
—

 
20.2

Other investments
 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
0.1

 
2.0

Short-term investments
 
(0.5
)
 
—

 
(0.5
)
 
—

Net unrealized investment (losses) gains before income taxes
 
(4.8
)
 
21.1

 
(63.6
)
 
63.8

Income tax benefit (expense)
 
1.4

 
(4.6
)
 
10.5

 
(14.3
)
Net unrealized investment (losses) gains, net of income taxes
 
$
(3.4
)
 
$
16.5

 
$
(53.1
)
 
$
49.5

Foreign Currency Exchange Forward Contracts

14

We entered into foreign currency exchange forward contracts to manage operational currency exposure on our Canadian dollar (“CAD”) investment portfolio, minimize negative impacts to investment portfolio returns, and gain exposure to a total return strategy which invests in multiple currencies.  The currency forward contracts are carried at fair value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets in “Other liabilities.”  The gains and losses are included in “Net realized investment gains (losses)” in our Consolidated Statements of Income.
The fair value of our foreign currency exchange forward contracts as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was as follows:
(in millions)
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Operational currency exposure
 
$
(4.7
)
 
$
(0.2
)
Asset manager investment exposure
 
0.5

 
(0.9
)
Total return strategy
 
(0.6
)
 
0.7

Total
 
$
(4.8
)
 
$
(0.4
)
The following table represents our gross investment realized gains and losses on our foreign currency exchange forward contracts:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Realized gains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operational currency exposure
 
$
0.4

 
$
1.8

 
$
6.4

 
$
7.5

Asset manager investment exposure
 
1.4

 
0.6

 
14.4

 
1.1

Total return strategy
 
5.6

 
4.1

 
12.5

 
7.7

Gross realized investment gains
 
7.4

 
6.5

 
33.3

 
16.3

Realized losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operational currency exposure
 
(2.7
)
 
(4.2
)
 
(7.0
)
 
(10.1
)
Asset manager investment exposure
 
(0.9
)
 
(3.6
)
 
(12.5
)
 
(10.4
)
Total return strategy
 
(5.2
)
 
(3.5
)
 
(13.3
)
 
(6.2
)
Gross realized investment losses
 
(8.8
)
 
(11.3
)
 
(32.8
)
 
(26.7
)
Net realized investment (losses) gains on foreign currency exchange forward contracts
 
$
(1.4
)
 
$
(4.8
)
 
$
0.5

 
$
(10.4
)
Regulatory Deposits, Pledged Securities and Letters of Credit
We are required to maintain assets on deposit with various regulatory authorities to support our insurance and reinsurance operations.  We maintain assets pledged as collateral in support of irrevocable letters of credit issued under the terms of certain reinsurance agreements for reported loss and loss expense reserves. The following table presents our components of restricted assets at September 30:
(in millions)
 
September 30, 2018
 
September 30, 2017
Securities on deposit for regulatory and other purposes
 
$
180.6

 
$
177.8

Securities pledged as collateral for letters of credit
 
76.5

 
42.6

Securities and cash on deposit supporting Lloyd’s business
 
418.4

 
405.6

Total restricted investments
 
$
675.5

 
$
626.0

Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurement assumes that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability, or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market. Market participants are buyers and sellers in the principal (or most advantageous) market that are independent, knowledgeable, able to transact for the asset or liability and willing to transfer the asset or liability.
Valuation techniques consistent with the market approach, income approach and/or cost approach are used to measure fair value. The inputs of these valuation techniques are categorized into three levels.

15

•
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that can be accessed at the reporting date. We define actively traded as a security that has traded in the past seven days. We receive one quote per instrument for Level 1 inputs.
•
Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. We receive one quote per instrument for Level 2 inputs.
•
Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs reflect our own judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances.
We receive fair value prices from third-party pricing services and our outside investment managers. These prices are determined using observable market information such as dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, yield curves, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the security’s terms and conditions, among other things. We have reviewed the processes used by the third-party providers for pricing the securities, and have determined that these processes result in fair values consistent with GAAP requirements. In addition, we review these prices for reasonableness, and have not adjusted any prices received from the third-party providers as of September 30, 2018 . A description of the valuation techniques we use to measure assets at fair value is as follows:
Fixed Maturities (Available-for-Sale) Levels 1 and 2:
•
United States Treasury securities are typically valued using Level 1 inputs. For these securities, we obtain fair value measurements from third-party pricing services using quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets at the reporting date.
•
United States Government agencies, non-U.S. Government securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, credit securities and foreign denominated government and credit securities are reported at fair value using Level 2 inputs. For these securities, we obtain fair value measurements from third-party pricing services. Observable data may include dealer quotes, market spreads, yield curves, live trading levels, trade execution data, credit information and the security’s terms and conditions, among other things.
•
Asset and mortgage-backed securities and collateralized loan obligations are reported at fair value using Level 2 inputs. For these securities, we obtain fair value measurements from third-party pricing services. Observable data may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, yield curves, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the security’s terms and conditions, among other things.
Fixed Maturities (Available-for-Sale) Levels 3:
•
We own term loans that are valued using unobservable inputs.
Equity Securities Level 1: Equity securities are principally reported at fair value using Level 1 inputs. For these securities, we obtain fair value measurements from a third-party pricing service using quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets at the reporting date.
Equity Securities Level 2: We own interests in a mutual fund that is reported at fair value using Level 2 inputs. The valuation is based on the fund’s net asset value per share, at the end of each month. The underlying assets in the fund are valued primarily on the basis of closing market quotations or official closing prices on each valuation day.
Equity Securities Level 3: We own certain equity securities that are reported at fair value using Level 3 inputs. The valuation techniques for these securities include the following:
•
Fair value measurements obtained from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Security Valuation Office at the reporting date.
•
Fair value measurements for an investment in an equity fund obtained by applying final prices provided by the administrator of the fund, which is based upon certain estimates and assumptions.
•
Fair value measurements from a broker and an independent valuation service, both based upon estimates and assumptions.
Other Investments Level 2: Foreign regulatory deposits are assets held in trust in jurisdictions where there is a legal and regulatory requirement to maintain funds locally in order to protect policyholders. Lloyd’s is the appointed investment manager for the funds. These assets are invested in short-term government securities, agency securities and corporate bonds and are valued using Level 2 inputs based upon values obtained from Lloyd’s.

16

Short-term Investments: Short-term investments are principally reported at fair value using Level 1 inputs, with the exception of short-term corporate and governmental bonds reported at fair value using Level 2 inputs as described in the fixed maturities section above. Values for the investments categorized as Level 1 are obtained from various financial institutions as of the reporting date.
Transfers Between Level 1 and Level 2 Securities: There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 .
Based on an analysis of the inputs, our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis have been categorized as follows:
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
(in millions)
 
September 30, 2018
 
Level 1  (a)
 
Level 2 (b)
 
Level 3 (c)
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Governments
 
$
280.8

 
$
272.0

 
$
8.8

 
$
—

Foreign Governments
 
266.1

 
—

 
266.1

 
—

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
 
243.0

 
—

 
243.0

 
—

Corporate bonds
 
1,696.0

 
—

 
1,692.0

 
4.0

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
157.0

 
—

 
157.0

 
—

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
379.9

 
—

 
379.9

 
—

Asset-backed securities
 
173.4

 
—

 
173.4

 
—

Collateralized loan obligations
 
260.0

 
—

 
260.0

 
—

Total fixed maturities
 
3,456.2

 
272.0

 
3,180.2

 
4.0

Equity securities
 
486.5

 
476.0

 
—

 
10.5

Other investments
 
95.1

 
—

 
95.1

 
—

Short-term investments
 
434.5

 
399.3

 
35.2

 
—

 
 
$
4,472.3

 
$
1,147.3

 
$
3,310.5

 
$
14.5

(a)  
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
(b)  
Significant other observable inputs
(c)  
Significant unobservable inputs
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
(in millions)
 
December 31, 2017
 
Level 1  (a)
 
Level 2 (b)
 
Level 3 (c)
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Governments
 
$
415.1

 
$
410.6

 
$
4.5

 
$
—

Foreign Governments
 
233.2

 
—

 
233.2

 
—

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
 
335.9

 
—

 
335.9

 
—

Corporate bonds
 
1,525.7

 
—

 
1,523.8

 
1.9

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
134.9

 
—

 
134.9

 
—

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
309.4

 
—

 
309.4

 
—

Asset-backed securities
 
161.2

 
—

 
161.2

 
—

Collateralized loan obligations
 
228.0

 
—

 
228.0

 
—

Total fixed maturities
 
3,343.4

 
410.6

 
2,930.9

 
1.9

Equity securities
 
487.4

 
483.0

 
2.1

 
2.3

Other investments
 
108.8

 
—

 
108.8

 
—

Short-term investments
 
368.5

 
333.7

 
34.8

 
—

 
 
$
4,308.1

 
$
1,227.3

 
$
3,076.6

 
$
4.2

(a)  
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
(b)  
Significant other observable inputs
(c)  
Significant unobservable inputs

17

The fair value measurements in the tables above do not equal “Total investments” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as they exclude certain other investments that are accounted for under the equity-method of accounting.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the investments categorized as Level 3 are as follows:
Fair Value Measurements Using Observable Inputs (Level 3)
(in millions)
 
Credit Financial
 
Equity
Securities
 
Total
Beginning balance, January 1, 2018
 
$
1.9

 
$
2.3

 
$
4.2

Transfers into Level 3
 
—

 
—

 
—

Transfers out of Level 3
 
—

 
—

 
—

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in net income (loss)
 
—

 
(0.2
)
 
(0.2
)
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(0.1
)
 
—

 
(0.1
)
Purchases, issuances, sales, and settlements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases
 
2.2

 
8.4

 
10.6

Issuances
 
—

 
—

 
—

Sales
 
—

 
—

 
—

Settlements
 
—

 
—

 
—

 Ending balance, September 30, 2018
 
$
4.0

 
$
10.5

 
$
14.5

Amount of total gains or losses for the year included in net income (loss) attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at September 30, 2018
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

(in millions)
 
Credit Financial
 
Equity
Securities
 
Total
Beginning balance, January 1, 2017
 
$
2.0

 
$
0.4

 
$
2.4

Transfers into Level 3
 
—

 
—

 
—

Transfers out of Level 3
 
—

 
—

 
—

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):
 
 
 
 
 


Included in net income (loss)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(0.1
)
 
0.2

 
0.1

Purchases, issuances, sales, and settlements:
 
 
 
 
 


Purchases
 
—

 
1.7

 
1.7

Issuances
 
—

 
—

 
—

Sales
 
—

 
—

 
—

Settlements
 
—

 
—

 
—

 Ending balance, December 31, 2017
 
$
1.9

 
$
2.3

 
$
4.2

Amount of total gains or losses for the year included in net income (loss) attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at December 31, 2017
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , we did not have any financial assets or financial liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis or any financial liabilities on a recurring basis.

5.      Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The following table provides a reconciliation of reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”):

18

 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
Net reserves beginning of the year
 
$
2,488.0

 
$
2,180.2

Net Maybrooke reserves acquired
 
—

 
131.8

Net Ariscom reserves acquired
 
49.4

 
—

Add:
 
 
 
 
Losses and LAE incurred during current calendar year, net of reinsurance:
 
 
 
 
Current accident year
 
764.3

 
775.1

Prior accident years
 
(4.1
)
 
4.4

Losses and LAE incurred during calendar year, net of reinsurance
 
760.2

 
779.5

Deduct:
 
 
 
 
Losses and LAE payments made during current calendar year, net of reinsurance:
 
 
 
 
Current accident year
 
223.2

 
165.6

Prior accident years
 
469.0

 
413.7

Losses and LAE payments made during current calendar year, net of reinsurance:
 
692.2

 
579.3

Change in participation interest (1)
 
(29.4
)
 
(23.2
)
Foreign exchange adjustments
 
(20.8
)
 
18.9

Net reserves - end of period
 
2,555.2

 
2,507.9

Add:
 
 
 
 
Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses and LAE, end of period
 
1,736.5

 
1,798.0

Gross reserves - end of period
 
$
4,291.7

 
$
4,305.9

(1)  
Amount represents the change in reserves due to changing our participation in Syndicates 1200 and 1910.
Reserves for losses and LAE represent the estimated indemnity cost and related adjustment expenses necessary to investigate and settle claims. Such estimates are based upon individual case estimates for reported claims, estimates from ceding companies for reinsurance assumed and actuarial estimates for losses that have been incurred but not yet reported to the insurer. Any change in probable ultimate liabilities is reflected in current operating results.
The impact from the (favorable) unfavorable development of prior accident years’ loss and LAE reserves on each reporting segment is presented below: 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
U.S. Operations
 
$
(14.8
)
 
$
(28.7
)
International Operations
 
(0.8
)
 
17.0

Run-off Lines
 
11.5

 
16.1

Total unfavorable (favorable) prior-year development
 
$
(4.1
)
 
$
4.4

The following describes the primary factors behind each segment’s prior accident year reserve development for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 :
Nine months ended September 30, 2018 :
•
U.S. Operations: Favorable development in liability and surety lines, partially offset by unfavorable development in commercial multi-peril lines.
•
International Operations: Favorable development in property partially offset by unfavorable development within specialty and liability lines.   
•
Run-off Lines: Unfavorable development in liability lines as well as asbestos and environmental.
Nine months ended September 30, 2017 :

19

•
U.S. Operations:  Favorable development for the workers compensation, surety and commercial automobile lines.
•
International Operations:  Unfavorable development in the property and liability lines, primarily due to the first quarter 2017 Ogden rate change and claims from Hurricane Matthew.
•
Run-off Lines:  Unfavorable development in asbestos and other run-off segments partially offset by favorable development in risk management liability.
In the opinion of management, our reserves represent the best estimate of our ultimate liabilities, based on currently known facts, current law, current technology and assumptions considered reasonable where facts are not known. Due to the significant uncertainties and related management judgments, there can be no assurance that future favorable or unfavorable loss development, which may be material, will not occur.
  
6.      Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Cash. The carrying amount approximates fair value.
Investment securities and short-term investments . See Note 4, “Investments,” for additional information.
Premiums receivable and reinsurance recoverables on paid losses. The carrying value of current receivables and reinsurance recoverables on paid losses approximates fair value.                          
Debt . At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the fair value of our Junior subordinated debentures, Senior unsecured fixed rate notes and Other indebtedness was estimated using appropriate market indices or quoted prices from external sources based on current market conditions. All of these debt instruments would be in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, as the fair value estimates shown below were calculated using unobservable inputs reflecting our assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the liabilities.
A summary of our financial instruments whose carrying value did not equal fair value is shown below:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
(in millions)
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
Junior subordinated debentures:
 

 

 
 
 
 
Trust preferred debentures
 
$
172.7

 
$
170.9

 
$
172.7

 
$
172.9

Subordinated debentures acquired with Maybrooke
 
84.2

 
87.2

 
83.9

 
85.0

Total junior subordinated debentures
 
256.9

 
258.1

 
256.6

 
257.9

Senior unsecured fixed rate notes
 
139.8

 
140.6

 
139.6

 
141.2

Floating rate loan stock
 
58.3

 
57.6

 
58.9

 
59.0

 
 
7.      Shareholders’ Equity
On February 20, 2018 , the Board of Directors declared a 15% stock dividend, payable March 21, 2018 to all shareholders of record at the close of business on March 7, 2018 . As a result of the stock dividend, 4,397,520 additional shares were issued. Cash was paid in lieu of fractional shares of our common shares. Excluding repurchased shares, all references to common shares and related per share amounts in this document and related disclosures have been adjusted to reflect the stock dividend for all periods presented.
On August 6, 2018 , our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.27 on each share of common stock outstanding. On September 14, 2018 , we paid $9.3 million to our shareholders of record on August 31, 2018 .
On August 8, 2017 , our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.23 on each share of common stock outstanding, on a post-stock dividend basis. On September 15, 2017 , we paid $8.3 million to our shareholders of record on September 1, 2017 .
On May 3, 2016, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $150.0 million of our common shares (“2016 Repurchase Authorization”). The 2016 Repurchase Authorization supersedes all previous Repurchase Authorizations. As of September 30, 2018 , availability under the 2016 Repurchase Authorization for future repurchases of our common shares was $55.1 million .
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , we repurchased a total of 500,989 common shares for $30.0 million . A summary of activity from January 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018 follows.

20

A summary of common shares repurchased for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is shown below:
 
Repurchase Type
 
Date
Trading Plan
Initiated
 
2018 Purchase Period
 
Number of
Shares
Repurchased
 
Average Price
of Shares
Repurchased
 
Total Cost
(in millions)
 
Repurchase
Authorization
Year
10b5-1 Trading Plan
 
12/18/2017
 
01/02/2018-02/16/2018
 
225,281

 
$
59.31

 
$
13.3

 
2016
10b5-1 Trading Plan
 
6/18/2018
 
06/22/2018- 08/07/2018
 
75,661

 
$
59.30

 
4.5

 
2016
10b5-1 Trading Plan
 
9/18/2018
 
09/19/2018-09/20/2018
 
7,492

 
$
59.86

 
0.5

 
2016
Open Market
 
N/A
 
02/20/2018-03/02/2018
 
89,305

 
$
59.03

 
5.3

 
2016
Open Market
 
N/A
 
08/13/2018-09/17/2018
 
103,250

 
$
62.07

 
6.4

 
2016
Total
 

 

 
500,989

 
$
59.83

 
$
30.0

 
 

8.      Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
A summary of changes in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes (where applicable) by component for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , and 2017 is presented below:
(in millions)
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Unrealized
Holding Gains
on Securities
 
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
 
Total
Balance, January 1, 2018
 
$
(19.0
)
 
$
121.9

 
$
(6.3
)
 
$
96.6

Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-01
 
—

 
(117.5
)
 
—

 
(117.5
)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2018-02
 
—

 
22.1

 
(1.4
)
 
20.7

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
 
(4.8
)
 
(53.4
)
 
—

 
(58.2
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
—

 
0.3

 
—

 
0.3

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(4.8
)
 
(148.5
)
 
(1.4
)
 
(154.7
)
Balance at September 30, 2018
 
$
(23.8
)
 
$
(26.6
)
 
$
(7.7
)
 
$
(58.1
)
 
(in millions)
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Unrealized
Holding Gains
on Securities
 
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
 
Total
Balance, January 1, 2017
 
$
(17.6
)
 
$
72.4

 
$
(7.1
)
 
$
47.7

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
 
(0.2
)
 
74.1

 
—

 
73.9

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
—

 
(24.6
)
 
—

 
(24.6
)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(0.2
)
 
49.5

 
—

 
49.3

Balance at September 30, 2017
 
$
(17.8
)
 
$
121.9

 
$
(7.1
)
 
$
97.0

 
The amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income shown in the above table have been included in the following captions in our Consolidated Statements of Income:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Unrealized gains and losses on securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized investment gains (losses)
 
$
(2.4
)
 
$
(17.4
)
 
$
0.2

 
$
(36.3
)
Provision for income taxes
 
0.3

 
5.5

 
0.1

 
11.7

Net of taxes
 
$
(2.1
)
 
$
(11.9
)
 
$
0.3

 
$
(24.6
)
 

21

9.    Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share
The following table presents the calculation of net income (loss) per common share on a basic and diluted basis:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions, except number of shares and per share amounts)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net income (loss)
 
$
40.6

 
$
(61.3
)
 
$
107.2

 
$
21.4

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
 
33,956,695

 
34,475,452

 
33,921,632

 
34,586,931

Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity compensation awards
 
699,633

 
—

 
767,211

 
940,242

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
 
34,656,328

 
34,475,452

 
34,688,843

 
35,527,173

Net income (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
1.20

 
$
(1.78
)
 
$
3.16

 
$
0.62

Diluted
 
$
1.17

 
$
(1.78
)
 
$
3.09

 
$
0.60

Excluded from the weighted average common shares outstanding calculation at September 30, 2018 and 2017 are 11,285,996 shares and 10,640,789 shares, respectively, which are held as treasury shares. The shares are excluded as of their repurchase date. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 there were no equity compensation awards with an anti-dilutive effect. For the three months ended September 30, 2017 there were 818,632 shares not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per common share as their effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 there were no equity compensation awards with an anti-dilutive effect.

10.      Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Interest paid and income taxes paid (recovered) were as follows:  
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
Senior unsecured fixed rate notes
 
$
7.0

 
$
7.0

Junior subordinated debentures
 
11.2

 
9.4

Other indebtedness
 
4.9

 
3.0

Revolving credit facility
 
—

 
0.3

Total interest paid
 
$
23.1

 
$
19.7

 
 
 
 
 
Income taxes paid
 
18.1

 
10.1

Income taxes recovered
 
—

 
(2.4
)
Income taxes paid, net
 
$
18.1

 
$
7.7

 
 
11.      Share-based Compensation
The fair value method of accounting is used for share-based compensation plans. Under the fair value method, compensation cost is measured based on the fair value of the award at the measurement date and recognized over the requisite service period. We use the Black-Scholes model to estimate the fair values on the measurement date for share options and share appreciation rights (“SARs”). The Black-Scholes model uses several assumptions to value a share award. The risk-free rate of return assumption is based on the five -year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate on the measurement date. The expected dividend yield is based on our history and expected dividend payouts. The expected award life is based upon the average holding period over the history of the incentive plan. The expected volatility assumption is based on the historical change in our stock price over the previous five years preceding the measurement date.

22

The following table summarizes the assumptions we used for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 :
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
Risk-free rate of return
 
2.96%
 
1.85%
Expected dividend yields
 
1.84%
 
1.71%
Expected award life (years)
 
4.49
 
4.48
Expected volatility
 
17.82%
 
18.13%
 
All outstanding awards were adjusted to reflect the 15% stock dividend, resulting in a 15% increase to the number of awards outstanding and a 13.04% reduction in the exercise price.
Argo Group’s Long-Term Incentive Plan
In November 2007, our shareholders approved the 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2007 Plan”), which provides for an aggregate of 4.5 million shares of our common stock that may be issued to executives, non-employee directors, and other key employees. As of May 2014, 1.46 million shares remained available for grant under the 2007 Plan. In May 2014, our shareholders approved the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”), which provides for an additional 2.8 million shares of our common stock to be available for issuance to executives, non-employee directors and other key employees. The share awards may be in the form of share options, SARs, restricted shares, restricted share awards, restricted share unit awards, performance awards, other share-based awards and other cash-based awards. Shares issued under this plan may be shares that are authorized and unissued or shares that we reacquired, including shares purchased on the open market. Share options and SARs will count as one share for the purposes of the limits under the incentive plans; restricted shares, restricted share units, performance units, performance shares or other share-based incentive awards which settle in common shares will count as 2.75 shares for purpose of the limits under the 2014 Plan.
Share options may be in the form of incentive share options, non-qualified share options and restorative options. Share options are required to have an exercise price that is not less than the market value on the date of grant. We are prohibited from repricing the options, except for the impact of stock dividend declarations. The term of the share options cannot exceed seven years from the grant date.
Restricted Shares
A summary of restricted share activity as of September 30, 2018 and changes during the nine months ended is as follows:
 
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2018
 
767,140

 
$
42.91

Granted
 
339,515

 
$
48.54

Vested and issued
 
(202,809
)
 
$
43.18

Expired or forfeited
 
(87,435
)
 
$
45.00

Outstanding at September 30, 2018
 
816,411

 
$
44.96

 
The restricted shares vest over one to eight years. Expense recognized under this plan for the restricted shares was $2.6 million and $10.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, as compared to $2.5 million and $7.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 . Compensation expense for all share-based compensation awards is included in “Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. As of September 30, 2018 , there was $26.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted share compensation arrangements granted by Argo Group.

23

Stock-Settled SARs
A summary of stock-settled SARs activity as of September 30, 2018 and changes during the nine months ended is as follows:
 
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1, 2018
 
1,494,458

 
$
30.85

Exercised
 
(540,233
)
 
$
26.64

Expired or forfeited
 
(16,204
)
 
$
36.38

Outstanding at September 30, 2018
 
938,021

 
$
33.17

 
The stock-settled SARs vest over a one to four -year period. Upon exercise of the stock-settled SARs, the employee is entitled to receive shares of our common stock equal to the appreciation of the stock as compared to the exercise price. Expense recognized for the stock-settled SARs was $0.4 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, as compared to $0.7 million and $3.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 . As of September 30, 2018 , there was $0.7 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock-settled SARs outstanding.
Cash-Settled SARs
A summary of cash-settled SARs activity as of September 30, 2018 and changes during the nine months ended is as follows:
 
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1, 2018
 
189,568

 
$
28.95

Exercised
 
(87,665
)
 
$
27.88

Expired or forfeited
 
(2,568
)
 
$
21.23

Outstanding at September 30, 2018
 
99,335

 
$
30.10

 
As of September 30, 2018 , all the cash-settled SARs are fully vested. Upon exercise of the cash-settled SARs, the employee is entitled to receive cash payment for the appreciation in the value of our common stock over the exercise price. We account for the cash-settled SARs as liability awards, which require the awards to be revalued at each reporting period. Expense recognized for the cash-settle SARs was $0.5 million and $1.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively. Expense recognized for the cash-settled SARs for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $0.3 million . Due to a decrease in the fair market value of our stock, we recouped  $0.6 million of expense for nine months ended September 30, 2017. As of September 30, 2018 , there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to cash-settled SARs outstanding.

12.      Underwriting, Acquisition and Insurance Expenses
The components of our underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses are detailed in the table below. General expenses includes certain costs associated with our holding company.
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Commissions
 
$
88.0

 
$
70.8

 
$
212.7

 
$
201.2

General expenses
 
83.2

 
89.7

 
261.6

 
266.4

Premium taxes, boards and bureaus
 
9.8

 
11.8

 
27.2

 
25.9

 
 
181.0

 
172.3

 
501.5

 
493.5

Net deferral of policy acquisition costs
 
(13.0
)
 
(6.2
)
 
(16.5
)
 
(19.1
)
Total underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses
 
$
168.0

 
$
166.1

 
$
485.0

 
$
474.4

 
 
13.    Income Taxes
We are incorporated under the laws of Bermuda and, under current Bermuda law, are not obligated to pay any taxes in Bermuda based upon income or capital gains. We have received an undertaking from the Supervisor of Insurance in Bermuda pursuant to the provisions

24

of the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act, 2011, which exempts us from any Bermuda taxes computed on profits, income or any capital asset, gain or appreciation or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, at least until the year 2035.
We do not consider ourselves to be engaged in a trade or business in the United States or the United Kingdom and, accordingly, do not expect to be subject to direct United States or United Kingdom income taxation.
We have subsidiaries based in the United Kingdom that are subject to the tax laws of that country. Under current law, these subsidiaries are taxed at the applicable corporate tax rates. Eight of the United Kingdom subsidiaries are deemed to be engaged in business in the United States, and therefore, are subject to United States corporate tax in respect of a proportion of their United States underwriting business only. Relief is available against the United Kingdom tax liabilities in respect of overseas taxes paid that arise from the underwriting business. Our United Kingdom subsidiaries file separate United Kingdom income tax returns.
We have subsidiaries based in the United States that are subject to United States tax laws. Under current law, these subsidiaries are taxed at the applicable corporate tax rates. Our United States subsidiaries generally file a consolidated United States federal income tax return.
We also have operations in Belgium, Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Spain, and Switzerland, which also are subject to income taxes imposed by the jurisdiction in which they operate. We have operations in Barbados and the United Arab Emirates, which are not subject to income tax under the laws of those countries.
On December 22, 2017, U.S. tax legislation referred to as the TCJA was enacted. The effects of changes in tax laws and tax rates are recognized in the period of enactment. Accordingly, we recorded the impacts of the TCJA in our 2017 consolidated financial statements which, among other changes, primarily includes the remeasurement of our deferred tax assets and liabilities for the reduced US federal tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning on January 1, 2018, and the computation of a provisional amount for the loss reserve discounting modifications. We are still analyzing certain aspects of the TCJA and refining our calculations, which could potentially affect the measurement of these balances or potentially give rise to new deferred tax amounts. We have not made any adjustments to the provisional amounts we recorded during the year ended December 31, 2017 . Beginning in 2018, the TCJA introduces an additional Base Erosion and Anti-abuse Tax (“BEAT”) provision computed to be an additional liability in excess of the regular US tax liability based upon an alternative BEAT computation. At this time, we have not recorded any provisional amounts for BEAT as we are awaiting information from Lloyd’s to determine the effect of BEAT on our US branches within our UK operations. Thus, our 2018 consolidated financial statements reflect a reasonably estimated provisional amount based on information available and in accordance with SAB 118. SAB 118 provides guidance on accounting for the effects of the U.S. tax reform where our determinations are incomplete but we are able to determine a reasonable estimate. A final determination is required to be made within a measurement period not to extend beyond one year from the enactment date of the U.S. tax reform. As additional guidance is released, the estimate will be updated as necessary.

25

Our expected income tax provision computed on pre-tax income (loss) at the weighted average tax rate has been calculated as the sum of the pre-tax income (loss) in each jurisdiction multiplied by that jurisdiction’s applicable statutory tax rate. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , pre-tax income (loss) attributable to our operations and the operations’ effective tax rates were as follows:
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
Pre-Tax
Income (Loss)
 
Effective
Tax
Rate
 
Pre-Tax
Income (Loss)
 
Effective
Tax
Rate
Bermuda
 
$
6.4

 
—
 %
 
$
(43.0
)
 
—
%
United States
 
34.8

 
13.4
 %
 
(1.3
)
 
52.9
%
United Kingdom
 
3.5

 
(5.0
)%
 
(24.6
)
 
16.4
%
Belgium
 
—

(1)  
30.8
 %
 
0.1

 
36.1
%
Brazil
 
0.4

 
—
 %
 
—

(1)  
—
%
United Arab Emirates
 
0.2

 
—
 %
 
3.5

 
—
%
Ireland
 
(0.1
)
 
—
 %
 
(0.1
)
 
—
%
Italy
 
(1.8
)
 
—
 %
 
—

(1)  
—
%
Malta
 
1.8

 
—
 %
 
0.6

 
—
%
Luxembourg
 
—

(1)  
—
 %
 
(1.3
)
 
—
%
Switzerland
 
0.1

 
21.2
 %
 
0.2

 
18.1
%
Pre-tax income
 
$
45.3

 
10.2
 %
 
$
(65.9
)
 
7.0
%

 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
Pre-Tax
Income (Loss)
 
Effective
Tax
Rate
 
Pre-Tax
Income (Loss)
 
Effective
Tax
Rate
Bermuda
 
$
(1.8
)
 
—
%
 
$
8.7

 
—
%
United States
 
114.2

 
15.6
%
 
57.4

 
24.1
%
United Kingdom
 
16.3

 
12.3
%
 
(36.6
)
 
21.6
%
Belgium
 
—

(1)  
33.3
%
 
0.2

 
36.2
%
Brazil
 
(1.0
)
 
—
%
 
(0.2
)
 
—
%
United Arab Emirates
 
0.5

 
—
%
 
—

(1)  
—
%
Ireland
 
(0.2
)
 
—
%
 
(0.1
)
 
—
%
Italy
 
(2.9
)
 
—
%
 
—

(1)  
—
%
Malta
 
2.2

 
—
%
 
1.7

 
—
%
Luxembourg
 
—

(1)  
—
%
 
(3.7
)
 
—
%
Switzerland
 
0.1

 
21.2
%
 
0.2

 
21.1
%
Pre-tax income
 
$
127.4

 
15.8
%
 
$
27.6

 
22.3
%
(1)  
Pre-tax income for the respective year was less than $0.1 million .

26

Our effective tax rate may vary significantly from period to period depending on the jurisdiction generating the pre-tax income (loss) and its corresponding statutory tax rate. The geographic distribution of pre-tax income (loss) can fluctuate significantly between periods given the inherit nature of our business. A reconciliation of the difference between the provision for income taxes and the expected tax provision at the weighted average tax rate is as follows:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Income tax (benefit) provision at expected rate
 
$
8.4

 
$
(5.5
)
 
$
26.8

 
$
12.9

Tax effect of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nontaxable investment income
 
(0.4
)
 
(1.1
)
 
(1.4
)
 
(3.5
)
Foreign exchange adjustments
 
(1.0
)
 
1.4

 
(1.2
)
 
1.1

Withholding taxes
 
0.2

 
—

 
0.5

 
0.3

Prior period adjustments
 
(2.2
)
 
(1.2
)
 
(2.1
)
 
(1.9
)
Change in valuation allowance
 
(0.2
)
 
0.8

 
(3.6
)
 
(0.3
)
Other
 
(0.1
)
 
1.0

 
1.2

 
(2.4
)
Income tax provision
 
$
4.7

 
$
(4.6
)
 
$
20.2

 
$
6.2

 
Our gross deferred tax assets are supported by taxes paid in previous periods, reversal of taxable temporary differences and recognition of future taxable income. Management regularly evaluates the recoverability of the deferred tax assets and makes any necessary adjustments to them based upon any changes in management’s expectations of future taxable income. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon our generation of future taxable income sufficient to recover tax benefits that cannot be recovered from taxes paid in the carryback period, generally for our US property and casualty insurers two years for net operating losses and for all our US subsidiaries three years for capital losses. If a company determines that any of its deferred tax assets will not result in future tax benefits, a valuation allowance must be established for the portion of these assets that are not expected to be realized. The net change in valuation allowance for deferred tax assets was a decrease of $3.6 million in 2018 relating to the items discussed below. Based upon a review of our available evidence, both positive and negative discussed above, our management concluded that it is more-likely-than-not that the other deferred tax assets will be realized.
Management has determined that a valuation allowance is required for a portion of the tax-effected net operating loss carryforward included as part of the United States consolidated group of $6.8 million generated from PXRE Corporation and for the tax effected net operating loss carryforward of $0.6 million from ARIS. The valuation allowances have been established as Internal Revenue Code Section 382 limits regarding the application of net operating loss carryforwards following an ownership change. The loss carryforwards available per year for both of these items are $2.8 million , as required by Internal Revenue Code Section 382.
Furthermore, due to cumulative losses incurred since inception, management has concluded that a valuation allowance is required for the full amount of the tax-effected net operating losses generated by our Brazil and Malta entities. Additionally, valuation allowances were established for our Luxembourg and US affiliates acquired in the Maybrooke transaction as well as our Italian operations acquired in the Ariscom transaction.
Accordingly, a valuation allowance is required as of September 30, 2018 of which $6.3 million relates to Brazil operations, $6.3 million relates to Italian operations and $1.0 million relates to Malta operations. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , the affiliates of Maybrooke Holdings SA have a valuation allowance established in the amount of $1.2 million . The change from 2017 was primarily driven from the liquidation of our Luxembourg affiliate as of March 23, 2018.
For any uncertain tax positions not meeting the “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold, accounting standards require recognition, measurement and disclosure in a company’s financial statements. We had no material unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2018 and 2017 . Our United States subsidiaries are no longer subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2015. Our United Kingdom subsidiaries are no longer subject to United Kingdom income tax examinations by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for years before 2016.
 
14.    Commitments and Contingencies
Argo Group’s subsidiaries are parties to legal actions incidental to their business. Based on the opinion of counsel, management believes that the resolution of these matters will not materially affect our financial condition or results of operations.

27

We have contractual commitments to invest up to $113.2 million related to our limited partnership investments at September 30, 2018 . These commitments will be funded as required by the partnership agreements which can be called to be fulfilled at any time, not to exceed thirteen years .

15.    Segment Information
We are primarily engaged in underwriting property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. We have two ongoing reporting segments: U.S. Operations and International Operations. Additionally, we have a Run-off Lines segment for certain products that we no longer underwrite.
We consider many factors, including the nature of each segment’s insurance and reinsurance products, production sources, distribution strategies and the regulatory environment, in determining how to aggregate reporting segments. Transactions between segments are reported in the segment that initiated the transaction.
In evaluating the operating performance of our segments, we focus on core underwriting and investing results before the consideration of realized gains or losses from investments. Realized investment gains are reported as a component of the Corporate and Other segment, as decisions regarding the acquisition and disposal of securities reside with the corporate investment function and are not under the control of the individual business segments. Identifiable assets by segment are those assets used in the operation of each segment.
Revenue and income (loss) before income taxes for each segment were as follows:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earned premiums
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Operations
 
$
278.3

 
$
242.6

 
$
807.6

 
$
692.9

International Operations
 
168.5

 
146.8

 
471.4

 
474.9

Run-off Lines
 
0.1

 
(0.1
)
 
0.3

 
—

Total earned premiums
 
446.9

 
389.3

 
1,279.3

 
1,167.8

Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Operations
 
21.4

 
18.8

 
64.7

 
66.0

International Operations
 
8.4

 
7.7

 
25.6

 
24.4

Run-off Lines
 
2.1

 
2.0

 
6.3

 
7.0

Corporate and Other
 
2.6

 
2.4

 
7.1

 
7.6

Total net investment income
 
34.5

 
30.9

 
103.7

 
105.0

Fee and other income
 
3.3

 
13.0

 
7.2

 
20.4

Net realized investment and other gains
 
14.2

 
6.0

 
9.0

 
25.1

Total revenue
 
$
498.9

 
$
439.2

 
$
1,399.2

 
$
1,318.3

 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Income (loss) before income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Operations
 
$
50.3

 
$
28.7

 
$
126.8

 
$
118.9

International Operations
 
(1.2
)
 
(77.5
)
 
34.9

 
(60.1
)
Run-off Lines
 
(7.6
)
 
(12.7
)
 
(8.6
)
 
(16.4
)
Total segment income before taxes
 
41.5

 
(61.5
)
 
153.1

 
42.4

Corporate and Other
 
(10.4
)
 
(10.4
)
 
(34.7
)
 
(39.9
)
Net realized investment and other gains
 
14.2

 
6.0

 
9.0

 
25.1

Total income (loss) before income taxes
 
$
45.3

 
$
(65.9
)
 
$
127.4

 
$
27.6


28

The table below presents earned premiums by geographic location for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 . For this disclosure, we determine geographic location by the country of domicile of our subsidiaries that underwrite the business and not by the location of insureds or reinsureds from whom the business was generated.
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
United States
 
$
276.5

 
$
242.5

 
$
803.7

 
$
692.8

United Kingdom
 
117.2

 
109.1

 
333.3

 
361.2

Bermuda
 
23.3

 
23.3

 
64.7

 
72.0

Malta
 
18.2

 
2.7

 
39.6

 
5.0

All other jurisdictions
 
11.7

 
11.7

 
38.0

 
36.8

Total earned premiums
 
$
446.9

 
$
389.3

 
$
1,279.3

 
$
1,167.8

The following table represents identifiable assets:
(in millions)
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
U.S. Operations
 
$
4,616.3

 
$
4,298.4

International Operations
 
3,770.6

 
3,553.8

Run-off Lines
 
466.8

 
449.6

Corporate and Other
 
426.0

 
462.2

Total
 
$
9,279.7

 
$
8,764.0

Included in total assets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are $813.9 million and $731.8 million , respectively, in assets associated with trade capital providers.

16.    Senior Unsecured Fixed Rate Notes  
In September 2012, Argo Group (the “Parent Guarantor”), through its subsidiary Argo Group US (the “Subsidiary Issuer”), issued $143,750,000 aggregate principal amount of the Subsidiary Issuer’s 6.5% Senior Notes due September 15, 2042 (the “Notes”). The Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Subsidiary Issuer and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Subsidiary Issuer’s other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The Notes are guaranteed on a full and unconditional senior unsecured basis by the Parent Guarantor. The Notes may be redeemed, for cash, in whole or in part, on or after September 15, 2017 , at the Subsidiary Issuer’s option, at any time and from time to time, prior to maturity at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued but unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to, but not including, the redemption date.
In accordance with ASU 2015-3, “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (Topic 835), we present the unamortized debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt liability. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the Notes consisted of the following:
(in millions)
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Senior unsecured fixed rate notes
 
 
 
 
Principal
 
$
143.8

 
$
143.8

Less: unamortized debt issuance costs
 
(4.0
)
 
(4.2
)
Senior unsecured fixed rate notes, less unamortized debt issuance costs
 
$
139.8

 
$
139.6

 
In accordance with Article 10 of SEC Regulation S-X, we have elected to present condensed consolidating financial information in lieu of separate financial statements for the Subsidiary Issuer. The following tables present condensed consolidating financial information at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , of the Parent Guarantor and the Subsidiary Issuer. The Subsidiary Issuer is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor. Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for by the Parent Guarantor under the equity method for purposes of the supplemental consolidating presentation. Earnings of subsidiaries are reflected in the Parent Guarantor’s investment accounts and earnings.
The Parent Guarantor fully and unconditionally guarantees certain of the debt of the Subsidiary Issuer. Condensed consolidating financial information of the Subsidiary Issuer is presented on a consolidated basis and consists principally of the net assets, results of operations and cash flows of operating insurance company subsidiaries.

29

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Argo Group
International
Holdings, Ltd
(Parent Guarantor)
 
Argo Group US, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
(Subsidiary Issuer)
 
Other Subsidiaries
and Eliminations (1)
 
Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
 
Total
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments
 
$
0.4

 
$
3,205.9

 
$
1,658.4

 
$
—

 
$
4,864.7

Cash
 
1.7

 
34.0

 
82.8

 
—

 
118.5

Accrued investment income
 
—

 
18.6

 
7.7

 
—

 
26.3

Premiums receivable
 
—

 
239.6

 
469.3

 
—

 
708.9

Reinsurance recoverables
 
—

 
1,559.7

 
648.5

 
—

 
2,208.2

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net
 
42.2

 
124.0

 
105.7

 
—

 
271.9

Deferred acquisition costs, net
 
—

 
89.9

 
84.7

 
—

 
174.6

Ceded unearned premiums
 
—

 
236.0

 
279.6

 
—

 
515.6

Other assets
 
8.4

 
193.7

 
188.9

 
—

 
391.0

Intercompany note receivable
 
—

 
53.0

 
(53.0
)
 
—

 
—

Investments in subsidiaries
 
1,941.9

 
—

 
—

 
(1,941.9
)
 
—

Total assets
 
$
1,994.6

 
$
5,754.4

 
$
3,472.6

 
$
(1,941.9
)
 
$
9,279.7

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
$
—

 
$
2,645.3

 
$
1,646.4

 
$
—

 
$
4,291.7

Unearned premiums
 
—

 
794.2

 
593.3

 
—

 
1,387.5

Funds held and ceded reinsurance payable, net
 
—

 
745.2

 
179.0

 
—

 
924.2

Debt
 
153.4

 
284.7

 
142.5

 
—

 
580.6

Current income taxes payable, net
 
—

 
8.9

 
(0.8
)
 
—

 
8.1

Deferred tax liabilities, net
 
—

 
15.5

 
(1.5
)
 
—

 
14.0

Accrued underwriting expenses and other liabilities
 
13.1

 
94.6

 
147.8

 
—

 
255.5

Due to (from) affiliates
 
10.0

 
5.3

 
(5.3
)
 
(10.0
)
 
—

Intercompany note payable
 
—

 
18.9

 
(18.9
)
 
—

 
—

Total liabilities
 
176.5

 
4,612.6

 
2,682.5

 
(10.0
)
 
7,461.6

Total shareholders' equity
 
1,818.1

 
1,141.8

 
790.1

 
(1,931.9
)
 
1,818.1

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 
$
1,994.6

 
$
5,754.4

 
$
3,472.6

 
$
(1,941.9
)
 
$
9,279.7

 
(1)  
Includes all other subsidiaries of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. and all intercompany eliminations.
(2)  
Includes all Argo Group parent company eliminations.

30

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2017
(in millions)
 
 
 
Argo Group
International
Holdings, Ltd
(Parent Guarantor)
 
Argo Group US, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
(Subsidiary Issuer)
 
Other Subsidiaries
and Eliminations (1)
 
Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
 
Total
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments
 
$
0.4

 
$
3,079.0

 
$
1,663.5

 
$
—

 
$
4,742.9

Cash
 
0.9

 
47.8

 
127.9

 
—

 
176.6

Accrued investment income
 
—

 
18.0

 
5.5

 
—

 
23.5

Premiums receivable
 
—

 
216.5

 
382.1

 
—

 
598.6

Reinsurance recoverables
 
—

 
1,487.3

 
606.0

 
—

 
2,093.3

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net
 
43.2

 
124.9

 
90.1

 
—

 
258.2

Current income taxes receivable, net
 
—

 
2.4

 
(1.0
)
 
—

 
1.4

Deferred acquisition costs, net
 
—

 
80.7

 
79.7

 
—

 
160.4

Ceded unearned premiums
 
—

 
198.5

 
201.0

 
—

 
399.5

Other assets
 
9.2

 
171.5

 
128.9

 
—

 
309.6

Intercompany note receivable
 
—

 
50.9

 
(50.9
)
 
—

 
—

Investments in subsidiaries
 
1,940.0

 
—

 
—

 
(1,940.0
)
 
—

Total assets
 
$
1,993.7

 
$
5,477.5

 
$
3,232.8

 
$
(1,940.0
)
 
$
8,764.0

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
$
—

 
$
2,483.9

 
$
1,717.1

 
$
—

 
$
4,201.0

Unearned premiums
 
—

 
704.0

 
503.7

 
—

 
1,207.7

Funds held and ceded reinsurance payable, net
 
—

 
799.4

 
(22.7
)
 
—

 
776.7

Long-term debt
 
153.4

 
284.5

 
142.8

 
—

 
580.7

Deferred tax liabilities, net
 
—

 
32.5

 
(1.2
)
 
—

 
31.3

Accrued underwriting expenses and other liabilities
 
8.9

 
95.0

 
43.0

 
—

 
146.9

Due to (from) affiliates
 
11.7

 
(0.4
)
 
0.4

 
(11.7
)
 
—

Total liabilities
 
174.0

 
4,398.9

 
2,383.1

 
(11.7
)
 
6,944.3

Total shareholders' equity
 
1,819.7

 
1,078.6

 
849.7

 
(1,928.3
)
 
1,819.7

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 
$
1,993.7

 
$
5,477.5

 
$
3,232.8

 
$
(1,940.0
)
 
$
8,764.0

 
(1)  
Includes all other subsidiaries of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. and all intercompany eliminations.
(2)  
Includes all Argo Group parent company eliminations.


31

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Argo Group
International
Holdings, Ltd
(Parent Guarantor)
 
Argo Group US, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
(Subsidiary Issuer)
 
Other Subsidiaries
and Eliminations (1)
 
Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
 
Total
Premiums and other revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earned premiums
 
$
—

 
$
222.9

 
$
224.0

 
$
—

 
$
446.9

Net investment (expense) income
 
(0.6
)
 
21.1

 
14.0

 
—

 
34.5

Fee and other income
 
—

 
2.2

 
1.1

 
—

 
3.3

Net realized investment (losses) gains
 
(0.3
)
 
16.2

 
(1.7
)
 
—

 
14.2

Total revenue
 
(0.9
)
 
262.4

 
237.4

 
—

 
498.9

Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
—

 
136.9

 
140.6

 
—

 
277.5

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses
 
3.3

 
85.0

 
79.7

 
—

 
168.0

Interest expense
 
1.6

 
4.6

 
1.7

 
—

 
7.9

Fee and other expense
 
—

 
1.2

 
0.7

 
—

 
1.9

Foreign currency exchange losses (gains)
 
—

 
—

 
(1.7
)
 
—

 
(1.7
)
Total expenses
 
4.9

 
227.7

 
221.0

 
—

 
453.6

(Loss) income before income taxes
 
(5.8
)
 
34.7

 
16.4

 
—

 
45.3

Provision for income taxes
 
—

 
4.7

 
—

 
—

 
4.7

Net (loss) income before equity in earnings of subsidiaries
 
(5.8
)
 
30.0

 
16.4

 
—

 
40.6

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
 
46.4

 
—

 
—

 
(46.4
)
 
—

Net income
 
$
40.6

 
$
30.0

 
$
16.4

 
$
(46.4
)
 
$
40.6


(1)  
Includes all other subsidiaries of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. and all intercompany eliminations.
(2)  
Includes all Argo Group parent company eliminations.


32

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Argo Group
International
Holdings, Ltd
(Parent Guarantor)
 
Argo Group US, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
(Subsidiary Issuer)
 
Other Subsidiaries
and Eliminations (1)
 
Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
 
Total
Premiums and other revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earned premiums
 
$
—

 
$
145.3

 
$
244.0

 
$
—

 
$
389.3

Net investment (expense) income
 
(1.1
)
 
16.5

 
15.5

 
—

 
30.9

Fee and other income
 
—

 
12.3

 
0.7

 
—

 
13.0

Net realized investment gains (losses)
 
—

 
6.6

 
(0.6
)
 
—

 
6.0

Total revenue
 
(1.1
)
 
180.7

 
259.6

 
—

 
439.2

Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
—

 
99.1

 
227.3

 
—

 
326.4

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses
 
5.6

 
74.0

 
86.5

 
—

 
166.1

Interest expense
 
1.6

 
4.2

 
1.7

 
—

 
7.5

Fee and other expense
 
—

 
4.1

 
0.9

 
—

 
5.0

Foreign currency exchange (gains) losses
 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
0.2

 
—

 
0.1

Total expenses
 
7.2

 
181.3

 
316.6

 
—

 
505.1

(Loss) income before income taxes
 
(8.3
)
 
(0.6
)
 
(57.0
)
 
—

 
(65.9
)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
—

 
(0.6
)
 
(4.0
)
 
—

 
(4.6
)
Net (loss) income before equity in earnings of subsidiaries
 
(8.3
)
 
—

 
(53.0
)
 
—

 
(61.3
)
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
 
(53.0
)
 
—

 
—

 
53.0

 
—

Net income
 
$
(61.3
)
 
$
—

 
$
(53.0
)
 
$
53.0

 
$
(61.3
)

(1)  
Includes all other subsidiaries of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. and all intercompany eliminations.
(2)  
Includes all Argo Group parent company eliminations.


33

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Argo Group
International
Holdings, Ltd
(Parent Guarantor)
 
Argo Group US, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
(Subsidiary Issuer)
 
Other Subsidiaries
and Eliminations (1)
 
Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
 
Total
Premiums and other revenue:
 

 

 

 

 

Earned premiums
 
$
—

 
$
646.8

 
$
632.5

 
$
—

 
$
1,279.3

Net investment (expense) income
 
(2.0
)
 
62.2

 
43.5

 
—

 
103.7

Fee and other income
 
—

 
3.7

 
3.5

 
—

 
7.2

Net realized investment (losses) gains
 
(0.2
)
 
15.3

 
(6.1
)
 
—

 
9.0

Total revenue
 
(2.2
)
 
728.0

 
673.4

 
—

 
1,399.2

Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
—

 
346.7

 
413.5

 
—

 
760.2

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses
 
11.5

 
250.2

 
223.3

 
—

 
485.0

Interest expense
 
4.5

 
13.4

 
5.5

 
—

 
23.4

Fee and other expense
 
—

 
3.7

 
1.8

 
—

 
5.5

Foreign currency exchange losses (gains)
 
—

 
0.2

 
(2.5
)
 
—

 
(2.3
)
Total expenses
 
16.0

 
614.2

 
641.6

 
—

 
1,271.8

(Loss) income before income taxes
 
(18.2
)
 
113.8

 
31.8

 
—

 
127.4

Provision for income taxes
 
—

 
17.9

 
2.3

 
—

 
20.2

Net (loss) income before equity in earnings of subsidiaries
 
(18.2
)
 
95.9

 
29.5

 
—

 
107.2

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
 
125.4

 
—

 
—

 
(125.4
)
 
—

Net income
 
$
107.2

 
$
95.9

 
$
29.5

 
$
(125.4
)
 
$
107.2


(1)  
Includes all other subsidiaries of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. and all intercompany eliminations.
(2)  
Includes all Argo Group parent company eliminations.


34

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Argo Group
International
Holdings, Ltd
(Parent Guarantor)
 
Argo Group US, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
(Subsidiary Issuer)
 
Other Subsidiaries
and Eliminations (1)
 
Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
 
Total
Premiums and other revenue:
 

 

 

 

 

Earned premiums
 
$
—

 
$
411.7

 
$
756.1

 
$
—

 
$
1,167.8

Net investment (expense) income
 
(3.2
)
 
64.7

 
43.5

 
—

 
105.0

Fee and other income
 
—

 
18.0

 
2.4

 
—

 
20.4

Net realized investment gains (losses)
 
0.5

 
25.6

 
(1.0
)
 
—

 
25.1

Total revenue
 
(2.7
)
 
520.0

 
801.0

 
—

 
1,318.3

Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
—

 
247.7

 
531.8

 
—

 
779.5

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses
 
17.8

 
190.7

 
265.9

 
—

 
474.4

Interest expense
 
3.0

 
12.7

 
4.7

 
—

 
20.4

Fee and other expense
 
—

 
10.7

 
1.7

 
—

 
12.4

Foreign currency exchange losses
 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
4.1

 
—

 
4.0

Total expenses
 
20.8

 
461.7

 
808.2

 
—

 
1,290.7

(Loss) income before income taxes
 
(23.5
)
 
58.3

 
(7.2
)
 
—

 
27.6

Provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
—

 
13.9

 
(7.7
)
 
—

 
6.2

Net (loss) income before equity in earnings of subsidiaries
 
(23.5
)
 
44.4

 
0.5

 
—

 
21.4

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
 
44.9

 
—

 
—

 
(44.9
)
 
—

Net income
 
$
21.4

 
$
44.4

 
$
0.5

 
$
(44.9
)
 
$
21.4


(1)  
Includes all other subsidiaries of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. and all intercompany eliminations.
(2)  
Includes all Argo Group parent company eliminations.



35

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Argo Group
International
Holdings, Ltd
(Parent Guarantor)
 
Argo Group US, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
(Subsidiary Issuer)
 
Other Subsidiaries
and Eliminations (1)
 
Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
 
Total
Net cash flows from operating activities
 
$
57.7

 
$
151.3

 
$
22.0

 
$
—

 
$
231.0

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from sales of investments
 
—

 
963.2

 
454.0

 
—

 
1,417.2

Maturities and mandatory calls of fixed maturity investments
 
—

 
302.5

 
72.6

 
—

 
375.1

Purchases of investments
 
—

 
(1,346.8
)
 
(630.4
)
 
—

 
(1,977.2
)
Change in short-term investments and foreign regulatory deposits
 
—

 
(65.0
)
 
31.2

 
—

 
(33.8
)
Settlements of foreign currency exchange forward contracts
 
0.2

 
0.5

 
1.3

 
—

 
2.0

Cash included in acquisition of Ariscom
 
—

 
—

 
15.6

 
—

 
15.6

Purchases of fixed assets and other, net
 
(0.1
)
 
(38.5
)
 
6.4

 
—

 
(32.2
)
Cash used in investing activities
 
0.1

 
(184.1
)
 
(49.3
)
 
—

 
(233.3
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Borrowing under the intercompany note
 
—

 
19.0

 
(19.0
)
 
—

 
—

Activity under stock incentive plans
 
1.0

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1.0

Repurchase of Company's common shares
 
(30.0
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(30.0
)
Payment of cash dividend to common shareholders
 
(28.0
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(28.0
)
Cash used in financing activities
 
(57.0
)
 
19.0

 
(19.0
)
 
—

 
(57.0
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
 
—

 
—

 
1.2

 
—

 
1.2

Change in cash
 
0.8

 
(13.8
)
 
(45.1
)
 
—

 
(58.1
)
Cash, beginning of year
 
0.9

 
47.8

 
127.9

 
—

 
176.6

Cash, end of period
 
$
1.7

 
$
34.0

 
$
82.8

 
$
—

 
$
118.5


(1)  
Includes all other subsidiaries of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. and all intercompany eliminations.
(2)  
Includes all Argo Group parent company eliminations.


36

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Argo Group
International
Holdings, Ltd
(Parent Guarantor)
 
Argo Group US, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
(Subsidiary Issuer)
 
Other Subsidiaries
and Eliminations (1)
 
Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
 
Total
Net cash flows from operating activities
 
$
11.8

 
$
175.3

 
$
65.3

 
$
—

 
$
252.4

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from sales of investments
 
—

 
652.5

 
625.5

 
—

 
1,278.0

Maturities and mandatory calls of fixed maturity investments
 
—

 
350.6

 
142.6

 
—

 
493.2

Purchases of investments
 
—

 
(1,140.8
)
 
(919.4
)
 
—

 
(2,060.2
)
Change in short-term investments and foreign regulatory deposits
 
1.8

 
29.6

 
232.8

 
—

 
264.2

Settlements of foreign currency exchange forward contracts
 
0.8

 
(5.5
)
 
4.7

 
—

 
—

Acquisition of Maybrooke, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired
 
(235.3
)
 
—

 
130.1

 
—

 
(105.2
)
Issuance of intercompany note, net
 
—

 
—

 
(120.0
)
 
120.0

 
—

Purchases of fixed assets and other, net
 
(0.1
)
 
(5.3
)
 
(30.6
)
 
—

 
(36.0
)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities
 
(232.8
)
 
(118.9
)
 
65.7

 
120.0

 
(166.0
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional long-term borrowings
 
125.0

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
125.0

Borrowing under intercompany note, net
 
120.0

 
—

 
—

 
(120.0
)
 
—

Activity under stock incentive plans
 
0.9

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
0.9

Repurchase of Company's common shares
 
—

 
(36.6
)
 
—

 
—

 
(36.6
)
Payment of cash dividend to common shareholders
 
(24.9
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(24.9
)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
221.0

 
(36.6
)
 
—

 
(120.0
)
 
64.4

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
 
—

 
—

 
(1.0
)
 
—

 
(1.0
)
Change in cash
 
—

 
19.8

 
130.0

 
—

 
149.8

Cash, beginning of year
 
—

 
53.7

 
32.3

 
—

 
86.0

Cash, end of period
 
$
—

 
$
73.5

 
$
162.3

 
$
—

 
$
235.8


(1)  
Includes all other subsidiaries of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. and all intercompany eliminations.
(2)  
Includes all Argo Group parent company eliminations.



37

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following is a discussion and analysis of our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , and also a discussion of our financial condition as of September 30, 2018 . This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the attached unaudited interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto and Argo Group’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 27, 2018, including the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto.

Forward Looking Statements
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk and the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements (including the notes thereto) may contain “forward looking statements,” which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that actual developments will be those anticipated by us. Actual results may differ materially as a result of significant risks and uncertainties, including non-receipt of expected payments, capital markets and their effect on investment income and fair value of the investment portfolio, development of claims and the effect on loss reserves, accuracy in estimating loss reserves, changes in the demand for our products, effect of general economic conditions, adverse government legislation and regulations, government investigations into industry practices, developments relating to existing agreements, heightened competition, changes in pricing environments and changes in asset valuations. For a more detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties, see our public filings made with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.
Generally, it is our policy to communicate events that may have a material adverse impact on our operations or financial position, including property and casualty catastrophe events and material losses in the investment portfolio, in a timely manner through a public announcement. It is also our policy not to make public announcements regarding events that are believed to have no material adverse impact on our results of operations or financial position based on management’s current estimates and available information, other than through regularly scheduled calls, press releases or filings.
Consolidated Results of Operations
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , we reported net income of $40.6 million ( $1.17 per diluted share) and $107.2 million ( $3.09 per diluted share), respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , we reported a net loss of $61.3 million ( $1.78 loss per diluted share) and net income of $21.4 million ( $0.60 per diluted share), respectively.
The following is a comparison of selected data from our operations:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Gross written premiums
 
$
839.9

 
$
805.1

 
$
2,253.2

 
$
2,090.9

Earned premiums
 
$
446.9

 
$
389.3

 
$
1,279.3

 
$
1,167.8

Net investment income
 
34.5

 
30.9

 
103.7

 
105.0

Fee and other income
 
3.3

 
13.0

 
7.2

 
20.4

Net realized investment gains (losses):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized investment gains
 
9.7

 
6.0

 
31.1

 
25.1

Change in fair value of equity securities
 
4.5

 
—

 
(22.1
)
 
—

Net realized investment gains
 
14.2

 
6.0

 
9.0

 
25.1

Total revenue
 
$
498.9

 
$
439.2

 
$
1,399.2

 
$
1,318.3

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
$
45.3

 
$
(65.9
)
 
$
127.4

 
$
27.6

Income tax provision (benefit)
 
4.7

 
(4.6
)
 
20.2

 
6.2

Net income (loss)
 
$
40.6

 
$
(61.3
)
 
$
107.2

 
$
21.4

Loss ratio
 
62.1
%
 
83.8
%
 
59.4
%
 
66.7
%
Expense ratio
 
37.6
%
 
42.7
%
 
37.9
%
 
40.6
%
Combined ratio
 
99.7
%
 
126.5
%
 
97.3
%
 
107.3
%

38
Table of Contents

In presenting our results in the following discussion and analysis of our results of operations, we have included certain non-generally accepted accounting principles ("non-GAAP") financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G as promulgated by the SEC. We believe that these non-GAAP measures, specifically the current accident year non-catastrophe loss, expense and combined ratios, which may be defined differently by other companies, better explain our results of operations in a manner that allows for a more complete understanding of the underlying trends in our business. However, these measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Reconciliations of these financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the tables below.
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Amount
 
Ratio  (1)
 
Amount
 
Ratio  (1)
Earned premiums, as reported
 
$
446.9

 
 
 
$
389.3

 
 
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Catastrophe-related premium adjustments - inward/(outward)
 
0.4

 
 
 
(14.5
)
 
 
Earned premiums, net of catastrophe-related adjustments
 
$
446.5

 
 
 
$
403.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, as reported
 
$
277.5

 
62.1
%
 
$
326.4

 
83.8
 %
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unfavorable (favorable) prior accident year loss development
 
0.3

 
0.1
%
 
(1.3
)
 
(0.3
)%
Catastrophe losses  (2)
 
24.6

 
5.5
%
 
90.0

 
25.2
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe losses
 
$
252.6

 
56.5
%
 
$
237.7

 
58.9
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe expense ratio
 


 
37.6
%
 


 
41.1
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe combined ratio
 
 
 
94.1
%
 
 
 
100.0
 %
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Amount
 
Ratio  (1)
 
Amount
 
Ratio  (1)
Earned premiums, as reported
 
$
1,279.3

 
 
 
$
1,167.8

 
 
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Catastrophe-related premium adjustments - inward/(outward)
 
0.4

 
 
 
(14.5
)
 
 
Earned premiums, net of catastrophe-related adjustments
 
$
1,278.9

 
 
 
$
1,182.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, as reported
 
$
760.2

 
59.4
 %
 
$
779.5

 
66.7
%
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Favorable) unfavorable prior accident year loss development
 
(4.1
)
 
(0.3
)%
 
4.4

 
0.4
%
Catastrophe losses  (2)
 
30.6

 
2.4
 %
 
96.4

 
8.9
%
Current accident year non-catastrophe losses
 
$
733.7

 
57.3
 %
 
$
678.7

 
57.4
%
Current accident year non-catastrophe expense ratio
 
 
 
37.9
 %
 
 
 
40.1
%
Current accident year non-catastrophe combined ratio
 
 
 
95.2
 %
 
 
 
97.5
%
(1) For purposes of calculating the percentage points impact on the loss, expense and combined ratios, earned premiums were adjusted to exclude reinstatement and other catastrophe-related premium adjustments of $0.4 million (net inward premiums) for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, and $14.5 million (net outward premiums) for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.
(2) Catastrophe losses' percentage point impact are calculated as the difference between the reported combined ratio and the combined ratio excluding incurred catastrophe losses and associated reinstatement and other catastrophe-related premium adjustments.
Impact of recently adopted accounting standard
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities, using a cumulative effect adjustment. This adjustment transferred the unrealized gains and losses as of December 31, 2017 , net of tax, on equity securities from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings, resulting in no overall impact to shareholders' equity.

39
Table of Contents

In accordance with this accounting standard, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , we recognized the change in the fair value of our equity securities as a pre-tax gain of $4.5 million and a pre-tax loss of $22.1 million for the respective periods. These amounts are included as a component of net realized investment gains in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). Amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 are not presented as a component of net income, as ASU 2016-01 was required to be adopted on a prospective basis.
Gross Written and Earned Premiums
Consolidated gross written and earned premiums by our four primary insurance lines were as follows:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
Property
 
$
223.4

 
$
83.1

 
$
245.1

 
$
75.5

Liability
 
355.2

 
210.4

 
333.5

 
182.8

Professional
 
113.9

 
60.9

 
89.0

 
53.5

Specialty
 
147.4

 
92.5

 
137.5

 
77.5

Total
 
$
839.9

 
$
446.9

 
$
805.1

 
$
389.3

 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
Property
 
$
602.6

 
$
256.9

 
$
583.7

 
$
254.7

Liability
 
936.0

 
600.6

 
842.0

 
514.9

Professional
 
305.8

 
171.5

 
240.3

 
155.9

Specialty
 
408.8

 
250.3

 
424.9

 
242.3

Total
 
$
2,253.2

 
$
1,279.3

 
$
2,090.9

 
$
1,167.8


The increase in consolidated gross written and earned premiums for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period ended 2017 was attributable to growth in all major lines of our U.S. Operations, partially offset by planned reductions in our International Operations.
Gross written and earned premiums also increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period ended 2017, driven by the growth in all major lines of our U.S. Operations, led by our Liability lines business. International Operations experienced a modest increase in gross written premiums during the first nine months of 2018 as compared to the first nine months of 2017, primarily due to growth in our Property, Liability and Professional lines, as well as the timing of the Ariel Re acquisition. Ariel Re has a significant property contract that is subject to renewal in January of each year. The Ariel Re transaction closed in February 2017, as such the January 2017 premium for Ariel Re is not included while the 2018 renewal is included in our gross written premium. International Operations earned premiums were relatively flat for the comparable nine month periods, as the increases in gross written premiums were offset primarily by the impact of introducing trade capital in Ariel Re in 2018.
As part of the full integration of the reinsurance business of Ariel Re which we acquired in February 2017, beginning in 2018 we changed the capital structure supporting that business by introducing certain third party trade capital to participate in the exposures we underwrite. This trade capital receives a corresponding proportion of the gross written premiums. As such, this structure has the effect of reducing the gross written premiums reported in our financial statements. In exchange, we receive certain remuneration for generating this business and for the underlying underwriting performance. There was no such structure for our Ariel Re business in 2017.
During 2018, all product lines have experienced increased competition and pressure on rates due to market conditions. However, both U.S. Operations and International Operations saw overall rate increases for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Consolidated earned premiums increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same periods in 2017 due to increased gross and net written premiums in the trailing twelve-month period.
Our gross written and earned premiums are further discussed by reporting segment and major lines of business in the subsequent "Segment Results" section of this document.

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Net Investment Income
The increase in consolidated net investment income for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period ended 2017 was primarily attributable to increased income from our fixed maturities and alternative investment portfolio from higher asset bases and increased yield. The decrease in consolidated net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period ended 2017 was primarily due to $11.6 million of pre-tax net investment gains relating to net asset sales initiated by an equity investee in the second quarter of 2017. The decrease in net investment income from our alternative investment portfolio was partially offset by increased income from fixed maturities due to a combination of an increased asset base and higher yields during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Net Realized Investment Gains/Losses
Consolidated net realized investment gains for the three months ended September 30, 2018 included a $4.5 million increase in the fair value of equity securities. The remaining $9.7 million net realized investment gain consisted of $11.0 million in realized gains primarily from the sale of equity securities and $1.3 million of foreign currency exchange losses, primarily on our forward currency forward contracts.
Consolidated net realized investment gains for the three months ended September 30, 2017 consisted of $9.6 million in realized gains from the sale of equity and fixed maturity securities and $0.4 million in realized loss from other invested assets. Partially offsetting these realized gains was $3.0 million of realized foreign currency exchange losses, including $2.3 million on our forward currency forward contracts. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, we recognized $0.2 million in other-than-temporary impairment losses within our equity and fixed maturity portfolio.
Consolidated net realized investment gains for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 included a $22.1 million decrease in the fair value of equity securities. The remaining $31.1 million net realized investment gain consisted of $31.8 million in realized gains primarily from the sale of equity securities and $1.2 million of foreign currency exchange gains, including $0.5 million on our forward currency forward contracts. Additionally, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized $1.9 million in other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturity securities.
Consolidated net realized investment gains for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 consisted of $44.6 million in realized gains from the sale of equity and fixed maturity securities and $0.7 million in realized loss from other invested assets. Partially offsetting these realized gains was $17.1 million of realized foreign currency exchange losses, including $8.0 million on our forward currency forward contracts. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recognized $1.7 million in other-than-temporary impairment losses within our equity and fixed maturity portfolio. 
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The consolidated loss ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was 62.1% , compared to 83.8% for the same period in 2017. The 21.7 percentage point decrease was due to lower catastrophe losses (19.7 percentage points) and an improvement in the current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio (2.4 percentage points), partially offset by net unfavorable prior-year reserve development in the third quarter of 2018 compared to net favorable prior-year reserve development in the third quarter of 2017 (0.4 percentage points).
The consolidated loss ratio for the first nine months of 2018 was 59.4% , compared to 66.7% for the same period in 2017. This 7.3 percentage point decrease in the loss ratio was primarily due to a 6.5 percentage point favorable impact related to lower catastrophe losses. We also experienced a 0.7 percentage point favorable impact from net favorable prior-year reserve development for the first nine months of 2018 versus net unfavorable prior-year reserve development for the same period in 2017. The current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio was relatively flat for the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 (0.1 percentage point improvement).

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The following table summarizes the above referenced prior-year loss reserve development for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 with respect to net loss reserves by line of business as of December 31, 2017. 
(in millions)
 
 Net Reserves 2017
 
Net Reserve
Development
(Favorable)/
Unfavorable
 
 Percent of 2017 Net Reserves
General liability
 
$
1,142.1

 
$
0.4

 
—
 %
Workers compensation
 
308.7

 
(0.2
)
 
(0.1
)%
Syndicate 1200 Liability
 
196.4

 
8.5

 
4.3
 %
Commercial multi-peril
 
147.5

 
5.7

 
3.9
 %
Commercial auto liability
 
99.9

 
(4.4
)
 
(4.4
)%
Reinsurance - nonproportional assumed property
 
80.7

 
(6.2
)
 
(7.7
)%
Special property
 
80.9

 
0.1

 
0.1
 %
Syndicate 1200 specialty
 
44.2

 
5.9

 
13.3
 %
Fidelity/Surety
 
44.1

 
(6.8
)
 
(15.4
)%
Syndicate 1200 property
 
104.2

 
(5.4
)
 
(5.2
)%
All other lines
 
239.3

 
(1.7
)
 
(0.7
)%
Total
 
$
2,488.0

 
$
(4.1
)
 
(0.2
)%
 
Consolidated gross reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses were $4,291.7 million (including $209.5 million of reserves attributable to our syndicate trade capital providers) and $4,305.9 million (including $273.3 million of reserves attributable to our syndicate trade capital providers) as of September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Management has recorded its best estimate of loss reserves at each date based on current known facts and circumstances. Due to the significant uncertainties inherent in the estimation of loss reserves, there can be no assurance that future favorable or unfavorable loss development, which may be material, will not occur.
Underwriting, Acquisition and Insurance Expenses
Consolidated underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses were $168.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $166.1 million for the same period ended 2017. The expense ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was 37.6% compared to 42.7% for the same period ended 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, consolidated underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses were $485.0 million compared to $474.4 million for the comparable 2017 nine month period. The expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 was 37.9% and 40.6%, respectively. Our consolidated underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses include certain costs associated with our holding company.
The improvement in both the three and nine month 2018 periods compared to the 2017 periods reflect the benefits of scale due to increased net earned premiums, including the favorable year-over-year impact of a $14.5 million reduction in net earned premiums in the third quarter of 2017 related to adverse catastrophe-related premium adjustments, as well as lower operating costs within the Reinsurance business unit of our International Operations due to expenses attributable to third party capital providers. Partially offsetting these lower operating costs were the continued investments in people and technology in strategic growth areas of our business. In addition, the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 included a one-time expense of $3.5 million relating to the final resolution of a premium tax dispute, while the nine month period in 2017 also included one-time charges of $4.0 million associated with the outsourcing of certain IT functions and $2.5 million of costs related to the acquisition of Ariel Re.
Interest Expense
Consolidated interest expense was $7.9 million and $23.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to $7.5 million and $20.4 million for the same periods ended 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in short-term LIBOR rates throughout the first nine months of 2018, as compared to the same periods in 2017. Additionally, during the period ended 2018, we incurred a full nine months of interest expense on the debt acquired as part of the February 6, 2017 Maybrooke acquisition and the $125.0 million term loan entered into during the first quarter of 2017 to help fund that transaction. Comparatively, these same debt instruments accrued interest at a lower rate and for less than the full nine months during the period ended September 30, 2017.

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Foreign Currency Exchange Gains/Losses
Consolidated foreign currency exchange gains were $1.7 million and $2.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, as compared to foreign currency exchange losses of $0.1 million and $4.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. The changes in the foreign currency exchange gains/losses were due to fluctuations of the U.S. Dollar, on a weighted average basis, against the currencies in which we transact our business. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the foreign currency exchange gains were primarily driven by the U.S. Dollar strengthening against all our major transactional currencies during both periods. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, the U.S. Dollar weakened against the British Pound, Euro, the Canadian Dollar and the Australian Dollar. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the U.S. Dollar weakened against all major currencies.
Income Tax Provision
The consolidated income tax provision represents the income tax expense or benefit associated with our operations based on the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Therefore, the provision for income taxes represents taxes on the net income for our Belgium, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States operations. The consolidated provision for income taxes was $4.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to income tax benefit of $4.6 million for the same period ended 2017. The effective tax rate increased to 10.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2018 from 7.0% for the same period ended 2017. The consolidated provision for income taxes was $20.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $6.2 million for the same period ended 2017. The effective tax rate decreased to 15.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 from 22.3% for the same period ended 2017. The increases in the effective tax rate for the comparative quarter-to-date and decrease for the comparative year-to-date periods were due to the concentration of the jurisdictional mix of taxable income in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 varying compared to the respective periods.

Segment Results
We are primarily engaged in writing property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. We have two ongoing reporting segments: U.S. Operations and International Operations. Additionally, we have a Run-off Lines segment for products that we no longer underwrite.
We consider many factors, including the nature of each segment’s insurance and reinsurance products, production sources, distribution strategies and regulatory environment, in determining how to aggregate reporting segments.
Our reportable segments include four primary insurance and reinsurance services and offerings as follows:
•
Property includes both property insurance and reinsurance products. Insurance products cover commercial properties primarily in North America with some residential and international covers. Reinsurance covers underlying exposures that are located throughout the world, including the United States. These offerings include coverages for man-made and natural disasters.
•
Liability includes a broad range of primary and excess casualty products for risks on both an admitted and non-admitted basis in the United States. Internationally, Argo underwrites worldwide casualty risks primarily exposed in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
•
Professional includes various professional lines products including errors & omissions, management liability (including directors and officers) and cyber coverages.
•
Specialty includes niche insurance coverages including marine & energy, accident & health and surety product offerings.
In evaluating the operating performance of our segments, we focus on core underwriting and investing results before consideration of realized gains or losses from the sales of investments. Intersegment transactions are allocated to the segment that initiated the transaction. Realized investment gains and losses are reported as a component of the Corporate and Other segment, as decisions regarding the acquisition and disposal of securities reside with the corporate investment function and are not under the control of the individual business segments. Although this measure of profit (loss) does not replace net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP as a measure of profitability, management uses this measure of profit (loss) to focus our reporting segments on generating operating income.
Since we generally manage and monitor the investment portfolio on an aggregate basis, the overall performance of the investment portfolio, and related net investment income, is discussed above on a combined basis under consolidated net investment income rather than within or by segment.

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U.S. Operations
The following table summarizes the results of operations for the U.S. Operations segment:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Gross written premiums
 
$
482.6

 
$
428.9

 
$
1,265.4

 
$
1,128.9

Earned premiums
 
$
278.3

 
$
242.6

 
$
807.6

 
$
692.9

Losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
156.2

 
148.4

 
468.0

 
394.2

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expense
 
90.3

 
88.6

 
265.4

 
243.0

Underwriting income
 
31.8

 
5.6

 
74.2

 
55.7

Net investment income
 
21.4

 
18.8

 
64.7

 
66.0

Interest expense
 
(3.9
)
 
(3.8
)
 
(11.9
)
 
(10.3
)
Fee and other income
 
1.5

 
11.6

 
1.5

 
16.0

Fee and other expense
 
(0.5
)
 
(3.5
)
 
(1.7
)
 
(8.5
)
Income before income taxes
 
$
50.3

 
$
28.7

 
$
126.8

 
$
118.9

Loss ratio
 
56.1
%
 
61.2
%
 
58.0
%
 
56.8
%
Expense ratio
 
32.5
%
 
36.5
%
 
32.8
%
 
35.1
%
Combined ratio
 
88.6
%
 
97.7
%
 
90.8
%
 
91.9
%
The following tables contain reconciliations of certain non-GAAP financial measures, specifically the current accident year non-catastrophe loss, expense and combined ratios, to their most directly comparable GAAP measures for our U.S. Operations.
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Amount
 
Ratio (1)
 
Amount
 
Ratio (1)
Earned premiums
 
$
278.3

 
 
 
$
242.6

 
 
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Catastrophe-related premium adjustments - inward/(outward)
 
—

 
 
 
(3.8
)
 
 
Earned premiums, net of catastrophe-related adjustments
 
$
278.3

 
 
 
$
246.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, as reported
 
$
156.2

 
56.1
 %
 
$
148.4

 
61.2
 %
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Favorable prior accident year loss development
 
(10.7
)
 
(3.8
)%
 
(10.7
)
 
(4.3
)%
Catastrophe losses (2)
 
5.6

 
2.0
 %
 
17.2

 
8.0
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe losses
 
$
161.3

 
57.9
 %
 
$
141.9

 
57.5
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe expense ratio
 
 
 
32.5
 %
 
 
 
36.0
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe combined ratio
 
 
 
90.4
 %
 
 
 
93.5
 %

 


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For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Amount
 
Ratio (1)
 
Amount
 
Ratio (1)
Earned premiums
 
$
807.6

 
 
 
$
692.9

 
 
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Catastrophe-related premium adjustments - inward/(outward)
 
—

 
 
 
(3.8
)
 
 
Earned premiums, net of catastrophe-related adjustments
 
$
807.6

 
 
 
$
696.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, as reported
 
$
468.0

 
58.0
 %
 
$
394.2

 
56.8
 %
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Favorable prior accident year loss development
 
(14.8
)
 
(1.8
)%
 
(28.7
)
 
(4.1
)%
Catastrophe losses (2)
 
11.2

 
1.4
 %
 
22.1

 
3.4
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe losses
 
$
471.6

 
58.4
 %
 
$
400.8

 
57.5
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe expense ratio
 
 
 
32.8
 %
 
 
 
34.9
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe combined ratio
 
 
 
91.2
 %
 
 
 
92.4
 %
(1) For purposes of calculating the percentage points impact on the loss, expense and combined ratios, earned premiums were adjusted to exclude reinstatement and other catastrophe-related premium adjustments of $3.8 million (net outward premiums) for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. There were no such premium adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.
(2) Catastrophe losses' percentage point impact are calculated as the difference between the reported combined ratio and the combined ratio excluding incurred catastrophe losses and associated reinstatement and other catastrophe-related premium adjustments.
Gross Written and Earned Premiums
Gross written and earned premiums by our four primary insurance lines were as follows:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
Property
 
$
76.3

 
$
33.7

 
$
68.1

 
$
26.8

Liability
 
302.1

 
182.9

 
277.2

 
160.2

Professional
 
61.2

 
33.0

 
46.2

 
30.8

Specialty
 
43.0

 
28.7

 
37.4

 
24.8

Total
 
$
482.6

 
$
278.3

 
$
428.9

 
$
242.6


 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
Property
 
$
193.7

 
$
100.8

 
$
193.4

 
$
85.8

Liability
 
790.8

 
528.6

 
715.4

 
454.8

Professional
 
164.4

 
95.5

 
119.9

 
85.5

Specialty
 
116.5

 
82.7

 
100.2

 
66.8

Total
 
$
1,265.4

 
$
807.6

 
$
1,128.9

 
$
692.9

Property
Property gross written premium increased for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period ended 2017. This was primarily attributable to the growth in our excess and surplus lines property business unit. The smaller variance between the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 is attributable to an offset of the growth in excess and surplus lines property business by the termination of a large property program in 2017.

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Liability
Our strategic growth initiatives in general casualty lines and a growing economy continued to produce increases in gross written premium for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period ended 2017. Growth was realized in the coal market, environmental, transportation and contract binding businesses. The increase in gross written premium in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 is also a result of growth in the same businesses noted above offset by a planned reduction in the allied medical business.
Professional
Gross written premium in our Professional lines increased for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period ended 2017 as a result of continued investment in these lines and new products. This quarter follows the trend of growth we have realized in gross written premium for the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 as we have carried out these strategies successfully.
Specialty
The increase in Specialty lines for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period ended 2017 is due primarily to the new business written in Surety lines. The growth in gross written premium for the first nine months of 2018 compared to same period of 2017 is also due to Surety and partially offset by the termination of a fronted program at the beginning of 2018.
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The loss ratio for the third quarter of 2018 was 56.1%, compared to 61.2% for the third quarter of 2017. The lower loss ratio in the third quarter of 2018 reflects lower catastrophe losses than the same period in 2017, partially offset by a modest increase in the current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio. The current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio for the third quarter of 2018 was 57.9%, compared to 57.5% for the third quarter of 2017. This modest increase is primarily related to business mix changes.
The loss ratios for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were 58.0% and 56.8%, respectively. The higher loss ratio in the first nine months of 2018 reflects less net favorable prior-year reserve development than the same period in 2017. Catastrophe losses adversely impacted the loss ratio by 1.4 percentage points for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to 3.4 percentage points for the same period in 2017. The current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 58.4%, compared to 57.5% for the same period in 2017. This increase is primarily related to a number of discrete non-catastrophe related property losses and, to a lesser extent, business mix changes.
Net favorable prior-year reserve development for the third quarter of 2018 was $10.7 million and $14.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and related primarily to Liability and Specialty lines. The net favorable prior-year reserve development for the third quarter of 2017 was $10.7 million and $28.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, related primarily to Liability and Specialty lines in both periods.
Catastrophe losses for the third quarter of 2018 were $5.6 million, primarily related to Hurricane Florence, compared to catastrophe losses of $17.2 million in the third quarter of 2017, which were primarily related to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, catastrophe losses were $11.2 million, primarily related to Hurricane Florence and other U.S. storms, and $22.1 million for the same period in 2017, mainly attributable to the Louisiana floods and other U.S. storms.
Underwriting, Acquisition and Insurance Expenses
The expense ratio for the third quarter of 2018 was 32.5%, compared to 36.5% for the third quarter of 2017. The expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 32.8%, compared to 35.1% for the same period in 2017. The improvement in the expense ratio reflects the overall increase in net earned premiums and lower acquisition costs, partially offset by continued strategic investments in people and technology, including digital initiatives in support of premium growth. The third quarter of 2017 included a $3.5 million charge relating to the final resolution of a premium tax dispute.
Fee and Other Income/Expense
Fee and other income, and the associated fee and other expense, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 decreased as compared to the same periods in 2017. During the third quarter of 2017, we recorded a one-time gain due to closing a transaction which transferred to a third party the distribution rights and operations of certain business managed on behalf of unaffiliated insurance companies.

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Table of Contents

Additionally, the fee income and expense related to this business was included in our results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, but not the comparable 2018 periods.
International Operations
The following table summarizes the results of operations for the International Operations segment:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Gross written premiums
 
$
357.2

 
$
376.3

 
$
987.5

 
$
962.0

Earned premiums
 
$
168.5

 
$
146.8

 
$
471.4

 
$
474.9

Losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
112.8

 
166.0

 
280.7

 
369.2

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expense
 
63.4

 
63.5

 
176.2

 
183.8

Underwriting (loss) income
 
(7.7
)
 
(82.7
)
 
14.5

 
(78.1
)
Net investment income
 
8.4

 
7.7

 
25.6

 
24.4

Interest expense
 
(2.3
)
 
(2.8
)
 
(6.9
)
 
(7.1
)
Fee and other income
 
1.1

 
0.8

 
3.5

 
2.3

Fee and other expense
 
(0.7
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(1.8
)
 
(1.6
)
(Loss) income before income taxes
 
$
(1.2
)
 
$
(77.5
)
 
$
34.9

 
$
(60.1
)
Loss ratio
 
66.9
%
 
113.0
%
 
59.5
%
 
77.7
%
Expense ratio
 
37.6
%
 
43.3
%
 
37.4
%
 
38.7
%
Combined ratio
 
104.5
%
 
156.3
%
 
96.9
%
 
116.4
%
The following tables contain reconciliations of certain non-GAAP financial measures, specifically the current accident year non-catastrophe loss, expense and combined ratios, to their most directly comparable GAAP measures for our International Operations.
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Amount
 
Ratio (1)
 
Amount
 
Ratio (1)
Earned premiums
 
$
168.5

 
 
 
$
146.8

 
 
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Catastrophe-related premium adjustments - inward/(outward)
 
0.4

 
 
 
(10.7
)
 
 
Earned premiums, net of catastrophe-related adjustments
 
$
168.1

 
 
 
$
157.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, as reported
 
$
112.8

 
66.9
%
 
$
166.0

 
113.0
 %
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unfavorable (favorable) prior accident year loss development
 
2.5

 
1.5
%
 
(2.6
)
 
(1.7
)%
Catastrophe losses  (2)
 
19.0

 
11.1
%
 
72.8

 
53.8
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe losses
 
$
91.3

 
54.3
%
 
$
95.8

 
60.9
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe expense ratio
 
 
 
37.7
%
 
 
 
40.3
 %
Current accident year non-catastrophe combined ratio
 
 
 
92.0
%
 
 
 
101.2
 %

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For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Amount
 
Ratio (1)
 
Amount
 
Ratio (1)
Earned premiums
 
$
471.4

 
 
 
$
474.9

 
 
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Catastrophe-related premium adjustments - inward/(outward)
 
0.4

 
 
 
(10.7
)
 
 
Earned premiums, net of catastrophe-related adjustments
 
$
471.0

 
 
 
$
485.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, as reported
 
$
280.7

 
59.5
 %
 
$
369.2

 
77.7
%
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unfavorable (favorable) prior accident year loss development
 
(0.8
)
 
(0.2
)%
 
17.0

 
3.5
%
Catastrophe losses  (2)
 
19.4

 
4.0
 %
 
74.3

 
17.0
%
Current accident year non-catastrophe losses
 
$
262.1

 
55.7
 %
 
$
277.9

 
57.2
%
Current accident year non-catastrophe expense ratio
 
 
 
37.4
 %
 
 
 
37.9
%
Current accident year non-catastrophe combined ratio
 
 
 
93.1
 %
 
 
 
95.1
%
(1) For purposes of calculating these ratios, net earned premiums were adjusted to exclude reinstatement and other catastrophe-related premium adjustments of $0.4 million (net inward premiums) for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, and $10.7 million (net outward premiums) for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.
(2) Catastrophe losses' percentage point impact are calculated as the difference between the reported combined ratio and the combined ratio excluding incurred catastrophe losses and associated reinstatement and other catastrophe-related premium adjustments.
Gross Written and Earned Premiums
Gross written and earned premiums by our four primary insurance lines were as follows:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
Property
 
$
147.1

 
$
49.4

 
$
177.1

 
$
48.8

Liability
 
53.0

 
27.4

 
56.3

 
22.6

Professional
 
52.7

 
27.9

 
42.8

 
22.7

Specialty
 
104.4

 
63.8

 
100.1

 
52.7

Total
 
$
357.2

 
$
168.5

 
$
376.3

 
$
146.8

 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
 
Gross Written
 
Net Earned
Property
 
$
408.9

 
$
156.1

 
$
390.3

 
$
168.9

Liability
 
144.9

 
71.7

 
126.6

 
60.1

Professional
 
141.4

 
76.0

 
120.4

 
70.4

Specialty
 
292.3

 
167.6

 
324.7

 
175.5

Total
 
$
987.5

 
$
471.4

 
$
962.0

 
$
474.9

Property
Gross written premiums for Property decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 due to a number of strategic initiatives.
As part of the full integration of the reinsurance business of Ariel Re which we acquired in 2017, beginning in 2018 we changed the capital structure supporting that business by introducing certain third party trade capital to participate in the exposures we underwrite. This trade capital receives a corresponding proportion of the gross written premiums. As such, this structure has the effect of reducing

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the gross written premiums reported in our financial statements. In exchange, we receive certain remuneration for generating this business and for the underlying underwriting performance. There was no such structure for our Ariel Re business in 2017.
The decline in Property premiums also reflects the effects of planned corrective underwriting actions relating to Syndicate 1200 Property D&F business, which began during 2017.
The noted declines were partially offset by geographic expansion into Europe during 2018 and growth in Bermuda driven by new business, increasing rates and increased participation on renewal business.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the increase in premiums is due to the timing of the Ariel Re acquisition, partially offset by the items noted as declines in the three month discussion. Ariel Re has a significant property contract that is subject to renewal in January of each year. The Ariel Re transaction closed in February 2017; as such the January 2017 premium for Ariel Re is not included in our results while the 2018 renewal is included in our gross written premiums.
Liability
The decrease in gross written premiums for Liability the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 is due to the strategic decision to non-renew certain utility accounts previously written in Bermuda. Partially offsetting this was planned geographic expansion into Europe, growth in new business writings in Syndicate 1200 in certain motor business, and increased writings in small-to-medium sized enterprise package business resulting from prior years of account binder premium increases. These same growth areas drove the increase in gross written and earned premiums for Liability for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. 
Professional
The increase in gross written and earned premiums for Professional lines for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same periods in 2017 was primarily attributable to growth in Syndicate 1200 due to increased writings in cyber, directors and officers and medical malpractice. In addition, Bermuda and Europe increased their writings in errors and omissions and directors and officers lines. Brazil also saw an increase in written premiums for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily due to strategic digital initiatives.
Specialty
The increase in gross written and earned premiums for Specialty lines for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 was primarily attributable to Syndicate 1200 premium increases in political risks and prior year of account binder premium adjustments in cargo, as well as increased writings in Latin America and our geographic expansion into Europe. The decrease in Specialty lines for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 was due to the aforementioned change in capital structure of Ariel Re and the resulting use of third party trade capital, and planned non-renewal of a number of unprofitable accounts within certain classes of Syndicate 1200’s marine and energy business.
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The loss ratio for the third quarter of 2018 was 66.9%, compared to 113.0% for the third quarter of 2017. The lower loss ratio in the third quarter of 2018 is due to lower catastrophe losses and an improvement in the current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio, partially offset by net unfavorable prior-year reserve development recorded in the third quarter of 2018, compared to net favorable prior-year reserve development for the third quarter of 2017. The current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio for the third quarter of 2018 was 54.3%, compared to 60.9% for the third quarter of 2017. The improvement in the current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio is primarily due to the earned premium impact of one-time catastrophe and risk management reinsurance purchases in 2017, in connection with the acquisition of Ariel Re. The effect of these purchases was an increase to the 2017 current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio of 2.6 percentage points. Additionally, the third quarter of 2018 reflected improved property experience as a result of lower attritional losses, in part due to corrective underwriting actions within the Property D&F book within Syndicate 1200.
The loss ratios for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were 59.5% and 77.7%, respectively. The lower loss ratio reflects a 13.0 point improvement related to catastrophe losses (as calculated in the table above) during the first nine months of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. Additionally, the loss ratio benefited from the impact of net favorable prior-year reserve development for the 2018 nine month period, as compared to net unfavorable prior-year reserve development for the 2017 nine month period. The current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio for the 2018 nine month period was 55.7%, compared to 57.2% for the 2017 nine month period. The decrease in the current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio is driven by the aforementioned one-time catastrophe and risk management reinsurance purchases in 2017 and improvement in attritional property losses, partially offset by the impact of business mix

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changes, primarily due to losses attributable to the use of trade capital for our Reinsurance Property business which generally carries a lower loss ratio than we retain across our International Operations.
For the third quarter of 2018, net unfavorable prior-year reserve development was $2.5 million concentrated in Professional and Liability lines, compared to net favorable prior-year reserve development of $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2017 which related primarily to Property, Liability, and Specialty lines. For the 2018 nine month period, net favorable prior-year reserve development was $0.8 million, compared to a net adverse prior-year reserve development charge of $17.0 million. The 2017 charge includes amounts related to Hurricane Matthew and the Ogden Rate Change in the United Kingdom. The charge on Hurricane Matthew was due to an unexpected reporting lag on binder business which impacted a number of insurance carriers across the Lloyd's market.
Catastrophe losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $19.0 million and $19.4 million, primarily related to Hurricane Florence, Typhoon Jebi and other catastrophe and weather-related events. Catastrophe losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $72.8 million and $74.3 million, primarily related to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and the Mexican earthquakes.
Underwriting, Acquisition and Insurance Expenses
The expense ratio for the third quarter of 2018 was 37.6%, compared to 43.3% for the third quarter of 2017. The expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 37.4%, compared to 38.7% for the same period in 2017. The decrease in the expense ratio relates to the increase in net earned premiums during the third quarter of 2018 and lower operating costs within the Reinsurance business unit due to expenses attributable to third party capital providers, partially offset by certain investments in support of strategic growth areas, most notably in Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific. Additionally, the third quarter of 2017 expense ratio was increased due to a reduction in net earned premiums due to one-time catastrophe and risk management reinsurance purchases in connection with the acquisition of Ariel Re.
Fee and Other Income/Expense
Fee income and other income represent fees and profit commission derived from the management of third party capital for our underwriting syndicates at Lloyd’s. The increase in fee and other income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same periods in 2017 was primarily due to fee income earned during the first nine months of 2018 from trade capital providers for managing their participation in Syndicate 1910. In 2017, Syndicate 1910 did not have trade capital participants. Fee and other expenses were comparable for the periods presented.
Run-off Lines
The following table summarizes the results of operations for the Run-off Lines segment:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Earned premiums
 
$
0.1

 
$
(0.1
)
 
$
0.3

 
$
—

Losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
8.5

 
12.0

 
11.5

 
16.1

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expense
 
1.0

 
2.2

 
2.6

 
6.2

Underwriting loss
 
(9.4
)
 
(14.3
)
 
(13.8
)
 
(22.3
)
Net investment income
 
2.1

 
2.0

 
6.3

 
7.0

Interest expense
 
(0.3
)
 
(0.4
)
 
(1.1
)
 
(1.1
)
Loss before income taxes
 
$
(7.6
)
 
$
(12.7
)
 
$
(8.6
)
 
$
(16.4
)

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Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Losses and loss adjustment expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was the result of net unfavorable loss reserve development on prior accident years of $7.4 million in asbestos and environmental lines, $6.0 million in other run-off lines, partially offset by net favorable loss reserve development on prior accident years of $4.9 million in Risk Management. Losses and loss adjustment expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was the result of net unfavorable loss reserve development on prior accident years of $13.6 million in our asbestos and environmental lines, $3.0 million in our other run-off lines, partially offset by net favorable loss reserve development on prior accident years of $4.6 million in Risk Management.
Losses and loss adjustment expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was the result of net unfavorable loss reserve development on prior accident years of $8.0 million in other run-off lines, $7.4 million in asbestos and environmental lines, partially offset by net favorable loss reserve development on prior accident years of $3.9 million in Risk Management. Losses and loss adjustment expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was the result of net unfavorable loss reserve development on prior accident years of $13.6 million in asbestos and environmental lines, $5.2 million in other run-off lines, partially offset by net favorable loss reserve development on prior accident years of $2.7 million in Risk Management.
The following table represents a reconciliation of total gross and net reserves for the Run-off Lines. Amounts in the net column are reduced by reinsurance recoverable.
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
Gross
 
Net
 
Gross
 
Net
Asbestos and environmental:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss reserves, beginning of the year
 
$
55.9

 
$
47.2

 
$
48.4

 
$
40.6

Incurred losses
 
8.2

 
7.9

 
12.5

 
15.2

Losses paid
 
(6.2
)
 
(5.9
)
 
(1.6
)
 
(5.2
)
Loss reserves - asbestos and environmental, end of period
 
57.9

 
49.2

 
59.3

 
50.6

Risk management reserves
 
201.6

 
124.5

 
222.1

 
138.6

Run-off reinsurance reserves
 
1.7

 
1.7

 
1.8

 
1.8

Other run-off lines
 
12.8

 
7.7

 
4.9

 
4.9

Total loss reserves - Run-off Lines
 
$
274.0

 
$
183.1

 
$
288.1

 
$
195.9

Underwriting, Acquisition and Insurance Expenses
Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses for the Run-off Lines segment consists primarily of administrative expenses. The decrease in underwriting expense for three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same periods ended 2017 was primarily attributable to decreased overhead expenses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The primary sources of our cash flows are premiums, reinsurance recoveries, proceeds from sales and redemptions of investments and investment income. The primary cash outflows are claim payments, loss adjustment expenses, reinsurance costs and operating expenses. Additional cash outflow occurs through payments of underwriting and acquisition costs such as commissions, taxes, payroll and general overhead expenses. Management believes that cash receipts from premiums, proceeds from investment sales and redemptions and investment income are sufficient to cover cash outflows in the foreseeable future. Should the need for additional cash arise, we believe we have access to additional sources of liquidity.
Cash provided by operating activities can fluctuate due to a timing difference in the collection of premiums and reinsurance recoveries and the payment of losses and expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, net cash provided by operating activities was $231.0 million and $252.4 million , respectively. The decrease in cash flows from operating activities in 2018 from 2017 was primarily driven by the timing of reinsurance recoveries and premium cash receipt in the respective periods, partially offset by cash received from certain third parties in advance of certain large claim settlements related to the third quarter 2017 hurricanes. This transaction is included in the line item "Other, net" in the operating activities section of our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , net cash used in investing activities was $233.3 million and $166.0 million , respectively. The increase in cash used in investing was mainly the result of the increase in cash used to purchase equity securities and short-term investments, partially offset by the proceeds from sales of equity securities and maturities of fixed securities. Included in the cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $235.3 million cash outflow related to the purchase

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of Maybrooke, net of $130.1 million of cash acquired. As of September 30, 2018 , $434.5 million of the investment portfolio was invested in short-term investments.
For nine months ended September 30, 2018 , net cash used in financing activities was $57.0 million , as compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $64.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , we borrowed $125.0 million as a term loan under our credit facility to help fund the acquisition of Maybrooke. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we repurchased 500,989 and 612,034 of our common shares for a total cost of $30.0million and $36.6 million, respectively. We paid cash dividends to our shareholders totaling $28.0 million and $24.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively.
Effective February 6, 2017, we completed the acquisition of Maybrooke Holdings, S.A. for $235.3 million. We drew $125.0 million under our Credit Agreement in order to help fund the acquisition and paid the remaining $110.3 million with available cash on hand. In addition to the cash needs related to this acquisition, we will have continuing cash needs for administrative expenses, the payment of principal and interest on borrowings, shareholder dividends and taxes. Funds to meet these obligations will come primarily from parent company cash, dividends and other payments from our insurance company subsidiaries and from our line of credit.
On March 3, 2017, each of Argo Group, Argo Group US, Inc., Argo International Holdings Limited, and Argo Underwriting Agency Limited (the “Borrowers”) entered into a $325 million credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. The Credit Agreement replaced and terminated the original $175 million credit agreement. The Credit Agreement provides for a $200.0 million revolving credit facility with a maturity date of March 3, 2022 unless extended in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Credit Agreement includes a $125 million term loan borrowing, which Argo Group used to pay off in its entirety the $125.0 million borrowing drawn on January 31, 2017 under the prior credit agreement to help fund the acquisition of Maybrooke. At September 30, 2018 , the $125.0 million drawn on this term loan remained outstanding, with a maturity date of March 3, 2019. The term loan bears interest based on a variable rate, which resets and is payable based on reset options we select pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2018 , the interest rate on this debt was equal to the two-month LIBOR (2.19% at September 30, 2018 ) plus 150 basis points, or 3.69%.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital and permitted acquisitions, and each of the Borrowers has agreed to be jointly and severally liable for the obligations of the other Borrowers under the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the Borrowers could be required to repay all amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement. Lenders holding at least a majority of the loans and commitments under the Credit Agreement could elect to accelerate the maturity of the loans and/or terminate the commitments under the Credit Agreement upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default. No defaults or events of defaults have occurred as of the date of this filing.
Included in the Credit Agreement is a provision that allows up to $200.0 million of the revolving credit facility to be used for letters of credit (“LOCs”), subject to availability. As of September 30, 2018 , there were no borrowings outstanding and $0.5 million in LOCs against the revolving credit facility.
On November 2, 2018, the Borrowers executed a new $325 million credit agreement, replacing the existing Credit Agreement and extending the maturity date of the revolving credit facility to November 2, 2023 and the maturity date of the term loan to November 2, 2021. For additional detail regarding the terms of the new credit agreement, see Part II, Item 5 - "Other Information."
On November 6, 2018, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.27 on each share of common stock outstanding. The dividend will be paid on December 14, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2018.
On May 3, 2016, our Board authorized the repurchase of up to $150.0 million of our common shares (“2016 Repurchase Authorization”). The 2016 Repurchase Authorization supersedes all the previous repurchase authorizations. Shares purchased are being held as treasury shares in accordance with the provisions of the Bermuda Companies Act 1981. As of September 30, 2018 , availability under the 2016 Repurchase Authorization for future repurchases of our common shares was $55.1million.
Refer to Part II, Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Argo Group’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 that Argo Group filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018 for further discussion on Argo Group’s liquidity.

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Recent Accounting Standards and Critical Accounting Estimates
New Accounting Standards
The discussion of the adoption and pending adoption of recently issued accounting policies is included in Note 2, “Recently Issued Accounting Standards,” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part I, Item 1 - “Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).”
Critical Accounting Estimates
Refer to “Critical Accounting Estimates” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 that we filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018 for information on accounting policies that we consider critical in preparing our consolidated financial statements. These policies include significant estimates made by management using information available at the time the estimates were made. However, these estimates could change materially if different information or assumptions were used.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We believe that we are principally exposed to four types of market risk: interest rate risk, credit risk, equity price risk and foreign currency risk.
Interest Rate Risk
Our primary market risk exposure is the exposure of our fixed maturity investment portfolio to interest rate risk and the changes in interest rates. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the fair valuation of these securities. As interest rates rise, the fair value of our fixed maturity portfolio falls, and the converse is also true. We manage interest rate risk through an active portfolio management strategy that involves the selection of investments with appropriate characteristics, such as duration, yield, currency and liquidity that are tailored to the anticipated cash outflow characteristics of our liabilities. A significant portion of our investment portfolio matures each year, allowing for reinvestment at current market rates. The model duration of the assets comprising our fixed maturity investment portfolio was 2.53 years and 2.57 years at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively.
Credit Risk
We have exposure to credit risk on losses recoverable from reinsurers and receivables from insureds. Our controls to mitigate this risk include limiting our exposure to any one counterparty, evaluating the financial strength of our reinsurers, generally requiring minimum credit ratings and in certain cases receiving collateral from our reinsurers and insureds.
We also have exposure to credit risk in our investment holdings. Our risk management strategy and investment policy attempts to mitigate this risk by primarily investing in debt instruments of high credit quality issuers, limiting credit concentration, monitoring the credit quality of issuers and counterparties and diversifying issuers. The weighted average rating of our fixed maturity investments was A+ with 86.0% and 87.1% rated investment grade or better (BBB- or higher) at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively.
Our portfolio also includes alternative investments with a carrying value at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $487.5 million and $543.6 million (10.0% and 11.5% of total invested assets) respectively. We may invest in both long and short equities, corporate debt securities, currencies, real estate, commodities and derivatives. We attempt to mitigate our risk by selecting managers with extensive experience, proven track records and robust controls and processes. We also mitigate our risk by diversifying through multiple managers and different types of assets and asset classes.
Equity Price Risk
We hold a diversified portfolio of equity securities with a fair value of $486.5 million and $487.4 million (10.0% and 10.3% of total invested assets) at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively. Our equity securities are exposed to equity price risk which is defined as the potential for loss in fair value due to a decline in equity prices. We believe the diversification of our equity securities among various industries, market segments and issuers, as well as the use of multiple outside investment managers, mitigates our exposure to equity price risk.  
Foreign Currency Risk
We have exposure to foreign currency risk in our insurance contracts, invested assets and to a lesser extent, a portion of our debt. We attempt to manage our foreign currency risk by seeking to match our liabilities under insurance and reinsurance contracts that are payable in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar with cash and investments that are denominated in such currencies. We also use foreign exchange

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forward contracts to mitigate this risk. We recognized $5.1 million in gains, and $18.8 million in losses from movements in foreign currency rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively. We recognized $0.1 million and 12.0 millions in losses from movements in foreign currency rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. We recognized $1.4 million in losses and $0.5 million in gains on our foreign currency forward contacts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively. We recognized $4.8 million and $10.4 million in losses on our foreign currency forward contacts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Argo Group, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. In designing and evaluating these disclosure controls and procedures, Argo Group and its management recognize that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating and implementing possible controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Argo Group in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
There were no changes in the internal control over financial reporting made during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. We review our disclosure controls and procedures, which may include internal controls over financial reporting, on an ongoing basis. From time to time, management makes changes to enhance the effectiveness of these controls and ensure that they continue to meet the needs of our business activities over time.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.  Legal Proceedings
Our subsidiaries are parties to legal actions incidental to their business.  Based on the opinion of counsel, management believes that the resolution of these matters will not materially affect our financial condition or results of operations.
Item 1A.  Risk Factors
See “Risk Factors” in the Argo Group Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for a detailed discussion of the additional risk factors affecting us.

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Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities
On May 3, 2016, our Board authorized the repurchase of up to $150.0 million of our common shares (“2016 Repurchase Authorization”). The 2016 Repurchase Authorization supersedes all the previous Repurchase Authorizations.
From January 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018 , we have repurchased a total of 500,989 shares for a total cost of $30.0 million . Since the inception of the repurchase authorizations through September 30, 2018 , we have repurchased 11,285,996 shares of our common stock at an average price of $40.17 for a total cost of $453.4 million . These shares are being held as treasury shares in accordance with the provisions of the Bermuda Companies Act 1981. As of September 30, 2018 , availability under the 2016 Repurchase Authorization for future repurchases of our common shares was $55.1 million . The following table provides information with respect to shares of our common stock that were repurchased or surrendered during the three months ended September 30, 2018 :
Period
 
Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased (a)
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share (b)
 
Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publically
Announced
Plan
or Program
(c)
 
Approximate
Dollar
Value of
Shares
That May
Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plan or
Program (d)
July 1 through July 31, 2018
 
41,977

 
$
59.57

 
40,388

 
$
62,242,085

August 1 through August 31, 2018
 
71,037

 
$
61.98

 
69,937

 
$
57,906,691

September 1 through September 30, 2018
 
49,209

 
$
61.55

 
46,131

 
$
55,067,129

Total
 
162,223

 
 
 
156,456

 
 
Employees are allowed to surrender shares to settle the tax liability incurred upon the vesting or exercise of shares under our various employee equity compensation plans. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 , we received 5,767 shares of our common stock, with an average price paid per share of $60.92 that were surrendered by employees in payment for the minimum required withholding taxes. In the above table, these shares are included in columns (a) and (b), but excluded from columns (c) and (d). These shares do not reduce the number of shares that may yet be purchased under the repurchase plan.
Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5.  Other Information
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement; Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement; Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation of a Registrant.
On November 2, 2018 (the “Effective Date”) each of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Argo Group US, Inc., Argo International Holdings Limited and Argo Underwriting Agency Limited (the “Borrowers”) entered into a $325,000,000 Credit Agreement (the “New Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders and parties signatory thereto.
The New Credit Agreement replaced the prior Credit Agreement (the “Prior Agreement”), dated as of March 3, 2017, among the Borrowers, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and the other parties thereto, which agreement was terminated concurrently with the execution of the New Credit Agreement. 
In connection with the consummation of the New Credit Agreement, Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. borrowed $125 million as a term loan due on November 2, 2021, which amount was used on November 2, 2018 to pay off in its entirety the $125 million of borrowings previously outstanding under the Prior Agreement.  In addition, the New Credit Agreement provides for a $200 million revolving credit facility, and the commitments thereunder shall expire on November 2, 2023 unless extended in accordance with the terms of the New Credit Agreement. Borrowings (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) by the Borrowers under the New Credit Agreement may be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, permitted acquisitions and letters of credit, and each of the Borrowers has agreed to be jointly and severally liable for the obligations of the other Borrowers under the New Credit Agreement.

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Loans designated by the Borrowers at the time of borrowing as “ABR Borrowings” that are outstanding under the New Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Rate (as defined in the New Credit Agreement), plus the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) for a one month interest period plus 1%. Loans designated by the Borrowers at the time of borrowing as “Eurocurrency Borrowings” that are outstanding under the New Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) for the Interest Period (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate (as defined in the New Credit Agreement).
The New Credit Agreement contains events of default as set forth therein. Generally, if an event of default occurs and is continuing, Lenders holding at least a majority of the loans and commitments under the New Credit Agreement may elect to accelerate the maturity of the loans and/or terminate the commitments under the New Credit Agreement. For certain events of default related to liquidation, bankruptcy and similar events, all amounts under the loans become due immediately and all commitments of the Lenders are automatically canceled.  On the Effective Date, $125 million was outstanding under the New Credit Agreement in the form of the term loan described above, and there were no amounts outstanding as revolving borrowings under the New Credit Agreement. Letters of Credit of $0.5 million were outstanding on the Effective Date under the New Credit Agreement.
The description of the New Credit Agreement set forth above is qualified in its entirety by the Credit Agreement filed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

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

New CEO Employment Agreement

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (the “Company”) executed, effective as of November 5, 2018, an employment agreement (the “Agreement”) with Mark E. Watson III, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, that terminates on December 31, 2023. The Agreement replaces and supersedes the employment agreement previously entered into between the Company and Mr. Watson. The Agreement provides that Mr. Watson will receive an annualized base salary of $1,200,000 less applicable withholdings and deductions (the “Base Salary”). The Human Resources Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors will review the Base Salary annually and may increase (but not decrease) the Base Salary. Mr. Watson also may be eligible to earn annual incentive awards and long-term incentive awards in the sole discretion of the Company from time to time.
 
In the event that Mr. Watson terminates the Agreement for Good Reason (as defined in the Agreement) or the Company terminates Mr. Watson without Cause, Mr. Watson will receive his Base Salary accrued through the termination date and any target annual incentive award for the year in which his employment is terminated and all unvested equity awards will remain in force as if no termination had occurred; provided that (i) any performance-based equity awards will vest based on actual performance through the end of the applicable performance period, (ii) unvested options and similar awards will remain exercisable for 12 months following the last vesting date, but not beyond the original term and (iii) any such termination within 2 years after a Change of Control (as defined in the Agreement) will result in all unvested equity awards fully vesting. In addition, Mr. Watson will be entitled to receive a payment equal to 2 times the sum of his Base Salary and target annual cash incentive award in the year of termination (or, if no target has been set, the target amount for the prior year). In addition, Mr. Watson shall also be eligible for continuation of health benefits at the active rate for up to 18 months or, if earlier, until he obtains reasonably equivalent coverage. The Agreement also provides for payments upon termination under the Agreement to be reduced, to the extent doing so would not reduce Mr. Watson’s aggregate (after tax) payments and benefits under the Agreement, so that no portion of such payments will be subject to excise taxes under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

In the event that the Company terminates Mr. Watson for Cause (as defined in the Agreement) he will receive his Base Salary and any benefits accrued as of the date of termination, and he will not be entitled to any other benefits except as required by law.

The Agreement contains certain confidentiality provisions and prohibits Mr. Watson from competing with the Company or soliciting its customers or employees for the one-year period following his termination.

A copy of the Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing summary of the terms and conditions of the Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 10.2.


56
Table of Contents

Item 6.  Exhibits
A list of exhibits required to be filed as part of this report is set forth in the Exhibit Index of this Form 10-Q, which immediately precedes such exhibits, and is incorporated herein by reference.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
 
 
10.1
 
10.2
 
31.1
 
31.2
 
32.1
 
32.2
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document


57
Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
 
 
 
November 6, 2018
By
/s/ Mark E. Watson III
 
 
Mark E. Watson III
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
November 6, 2018
By
/s/ Jay S. Bullock
 
 
Jay S. Bullock
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


58




$325,000,000
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
November 2, 2018
among
ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.,
ARGO GROUP US, INC.,
ARGO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED, and
ARGO UNDERWRITING AGENCY LIMITED,
as Borrowers,
The Lenders Party Hereto
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
and
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Co-Syndication Agents

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
and
HSBC BANK USA, N.A.,
as Co-Documentation Agents
__________________________
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
and
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,
as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers



TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Page

 
 
ARTICLE I Definitions
2

 
 
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms
2

SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings
31

SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally
31

SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP
32

SECTION 1.05. Foreign Currency Calculations
32

SECTION 1.06. Interest Rates; LIBOR Notification
33

 
 
ARTICLE II The Credits
33

 
 
SECTION 2.01. Commitments
33

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings
34

SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings
35

SECTION 2.04. [Intentionally Omitted]
35

SECTION 2.05. [Intentionally Omitted]
36

SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit
36

SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings
45

SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections
46

SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction and Increase of Commitments
48

SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt
49

SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans
50

SECTION 2.12. Fees
51

SECTION 2.13. Interest
52

SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest
53

SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs
55

SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments
56

SECTION 2.17. Taxes
57

SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs
62

SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
64

SECTION 2.20. Joint and Several Liability of the Borrowers.
65

SECTION 2.21. Defaulting Lenders
67

SECTION 2.22. Extension of Revolving Maturity Date.
68

 
 
ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties
70

 
 
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers
70

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability
71

SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts
71

SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change
71

SECTION 3.05. Properties
71


-i-

SECTION 3.06. Litigation
71

SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements
72

SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status
72

SECTION 3.09. Taxes
72

SECTION 3.10. ERISA
72

SECTION 3.11. Insurance Licenses
72

SECTION 3.12. Subsidiaries
72

SECTION 3.13. Material Agreements
73

SECTION 3.14. Disclosure
73

SECTION 3.15. Solvency
73

SECTION 3.16. Foreign Pension Plan
73

SECTION 3.17. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions
74

SECTION 3.18. EEA Financial Institutions
74

SECTION 3.19. Plan Assets
74

 
 
ARTICLE IV Conditions
74

 
 
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date
74

SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event
76

 
 
ARTICLE V Affirmative Covenants
77

 
 
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements; Ratings Change and Other Information
77

SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events
79

SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business
80

SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations
80

SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance
80

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights
81

SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws
81

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit
81

 
 
ARTICLE VI Negative Covenants
81

 
 
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness
81

SECTION 6.02. Liens
83

SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes
83

SECTION 6.04. Investments and Acquisitions
84

SECTION 6.05. Swap Agreements
85

SECTION 6.06. Restricted Payments
85

SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates
86

SECTION 6.08. Restrictive Agreements
86

SECTION 6.09. Maximum Leverage Ratio
86

SECTION 6.10. Tangible Net Worth
86

SECTION 6.11. Sale and Leaseback Transactions
87

SECTION 6.12. Rating
87


-ii-

 
 
ARTICLE VII Events of Default
87

 
 
ARTICLE VIII The Administrative Agent
89

 
 
ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous
92

 
 
SECTION 9.01. Notices
92

SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments
94

SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
95

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns
97

SECTION 9.05. Survival
101

SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness
101

SECTION 9.07. Severability
102

SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff
102

SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process
102

SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
103

SECTION 9.11. Headings
103

SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality
103

SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation
104

SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act
105

SECTION 9.15. Conversion of Currencies
105

SECTION 9.16. Appointment and Authorization of Borrower Representative
105

SECTION 9.17. No Fiduciary Duty
106

SECTION 9.18. Termination of Existing Agreement
107

SECTION 9.19. Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions
107

SECTION 9.20. Certain ERISA Matters
108




-iii-

SCHEDULES :
Schedule 1.01 -- Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 1.02 -- Pricing Schedule
Schedule 1.03 – Advance Rates
Schedule 1.04 -- Trust Preferred Securities
Schedule 2.01 -- Commitments
Schedule 3.11 -- Licenses
Schedule 3.12 -- Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.01 -- Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02 -- Existing Liens
Schedule 6.08 -- Existing Restrictions
EXHIBITS :
Exhibit A
--     Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B-1
--    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal; Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit B-2
--    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal; Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit B-3
--    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal; Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit B-4
--    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal; Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit C
--     Form of Several Letter of Credit

-iv-


CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of November 2, 2018, among ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD, a company organized under the laws of Bermuda, ARGO GROUP US, INC., a Delaware corporation, ARGO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED, a corporation organized under the laws of the United Kingdom, and ARGO UNDERWRITING AGENCY LIMITED, a corporation organized under the laws of the United Kingdom, as Borrowers, the LENDERS party hereto from time to time, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility and a term credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1

ARTICLE I

Definitions
SECTION 1.01.      Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
“ ABR ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
“ Acquired Entity or Business ” means either (a) the assets constituting a business, division, facility, product line or line of business of any Person not already a Subsidiary or (b) all of the Equity Interests of any such Person, which Person shall, as a result of such acquisition or merger, become a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Parent (or shall be merged with and into the Parent or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, with the Parent or such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary being the surviving Person).
“ Acquisition ” means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, by which any Borrower and/or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly (i) acquires any ongoing business or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, (ii) acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) Control of at least a majority in ordinary voting power of the securities of a Person which have ordinary voting power for the election of directors or (iii) otherwise acquires Control of a more than 50% ownership interest in any such Person.
“ Act ” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.14.
“ Additional Revolving Commitment Lender ” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.22(d).
“ Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing in Dollars for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate. For all other Eurocurrency Borrowings, “Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate” means the Eurocurrency Rate.
“ Administrative Agent ” means JPMCB, together with its permitted successors and assigns, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
“ Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“ Advance ” means any Loan or any Letter of Credit.

2

“ Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
“ Agreement ” means this Credit Agreement, as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time.
“ Agreement Currency ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.15(b).
“ Alternate Base Rate ” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that, for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Screen Rate (or if the LIBO Screen Rate is not available for such one month Interest Period, the Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14, then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.
“ Annual Statement ” means the annual statutory financial statement of any Insurance Subsidiary required to be filed with the insurance commissioner (or similar authority) of its jurisdiction of incorporation, which statement shall be in the form required by such Insurance Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of incorporation or, if no specific form is so required, in the form of financial statements recommended by the NAIC to be used for filing annual statutory financial statements and shall contain the type of information recommended by the NAIC to be disclosed therein, together with all exhibits or schedules filed therewith, or, in the case of an Insurance Subsidiary not domiciled in the United States, any comparable statement.
“ Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
“ Applicable Creditor ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.15(b).
“ Applicable Lending Installation ” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
“ Applicable Percentage ” means, (a) in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Revolving Commitments represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and (b) in respect of the Term Loan Facility, with respect to any

3

Lender at any time, the percentage of the Term Loan Facility represented by the outstanding amount of such Lender’s Term Loans at such time; provided that in the case of Section 2.21 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the total Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitments and Loans) represented by such Lender’s Commitment. If the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages pursuant to clause (a) shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.
“ Applicable Rate ” means, for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan or with respect to the facility fees payable hereunder, the applicable rate per annum set forth on Schedule 1.02 under the caption “Eurocurrency Spread for Revolving Loans”, “Alternate Base Rate Spread for Revolving Loans”, “Eurocurrency Spread for Term Loans”, “Alternate Base Rate Spread for Term Loans” or “Commitment Fee Rate”.
“ Approved Fund ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
“ Argo US ” means Argo Group US, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“ Argo Investment Policy ” means the investment policy of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as approved by the board of directors of the Parent from time to time.
“ Arranger ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Bank Securities, LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (or any other registered broker-dealer wholly-owned by Bank of America Corporation to which all or substantially all of Bank of America Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ investment banking, commercial lending services or related businesses may be transferred following the date of this Agreement), each in its respective capacity as a joint bookrunner and joint lead arranger hereunder.
“ Asset Disposition ” means any sale, transfer or other disposition (excluding any loss portfolio transfer or any surplus relief transaction (within the meanings prescribed by SAP) through assumption, reinsurance, cancellation and rewriting of insurance business or otherwise) of any asset of a Borrower or any Subsidiary in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions (and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise) (other than the sale of inventory or products in the ordinary course of business, the sale of obsolete or worn out property in the ordinary course of business or the sale of cash, cash equivalents and other investments made in accordance with Section 6.04(a) in the ordinary course of business).
“ Assignment and Assumption ” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.
“ Australian Dollars ” means the lawful currency of Australia.

4

“ Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Revolving Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments.
“ Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.
“ Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
“ Bankruptcy Event ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided , further , that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
“ Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“ Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“ Benefit Plan ” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“ Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
“ Borrower Representative ” shall mean Argo US in its capacity as borrowing agent and Loan administrator for the Borrowers hereunder and under each of the other Credit Documents.
“ Borrowers ” means, individually and collectively, the Parent, Argo US, Argo International Holdings Limited, a private limited liability company organized under the laws of England and Wales and registered under company number: 06543704, and Argo Underwriting

5

Agency Limited, a private limited liability company organized under the laws of England and Wales and registered under company number: 03741768.
“ Borrowing ” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (b) Term Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, as to which a single Interest period is in effect.
“ Borrowing Request ” means a request by the Borrower Representative for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.
“ Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; and when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for general business in London; and, if the Borrowing or LC Disbursements which are the subject of a borrowing, drawing, payment, reimbursement or rate selection are denominated in Euro, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which the TARGET2 payment system is not open for the settlement of payments in Euro).
“ Capital Lease Obligations ” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; provided , that the taking effect of any accounting standards or changes in GAAP after the Closing Date will not cause any lease obligation that was not or would not have been a Capital Lease Obligation prior to the taking effect of such accounting standards or changes in GAAP to be deemed a Capital Lease Obligation.
“ Change in Control ” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of Equity Interests representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Parent; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Parent by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Parent nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Parent by any Person or group; (d) except as otherwise expressly permitted under the terms of this Agreement (including a disposition permitted under Section 6.03(b)), the Parent shall cease to own and control, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Encumbrances) all of the economic and voting rights associated with all of the outstanding Equity Interests of each of its Insurance Subsidiaries or shall cease to have the power, directly or indirectly, to elect all of the members of the board of directors of each of its Insurance Subsidiaries; (e) except as otherwise expressly permitted under the terms of this Agreement (including a disposition permitted under Section 6.03(b)), Argo US shall cease to own and control, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Encumbrances) all of the economic and voting rights associated with all of the outstanding Equity Interests of each

6

of its Insurance Subsidiaries or shall cease to have the power, directly or indirectly, to elect all of the members of the board of directors of each of its Insurance Subsidiaries or (f) except as otherwise expressly permitted under the terms of this Agreement, the Parent shall cease to own and control, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens and other encumbrances all of the economic and voting rights associated with all of the outstanding Equity Interests of any of the other Borrowers or shall cease to have the power, directly or indirectly, to elect all of the members of the board of directors of any of the other Borrowers.
“ Change in Law ” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement or, with respect to any Lender, such later date on which such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) compliance by any Lender or any LC Issuer (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or such LC Issuer’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall, in each case, be deemed to be a “Change in “Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented; provided that, notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, the enactment of the changes to the UK bank levy contained in the draft Finance Bill 2014 provisions as published on December 10, 2013 shall be deemed not to be a “Change in Law” regardless of the date of their enactment or entry into effect.
“ Change of Tax Law ” means any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law relating to Taxes or any Treaty, or in any published practice or published concession of any relevant Governmental Authority.
“ Charges ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.13.
“ Class ” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Term Loans.
“ Co-Documentation Agent ” means U.S. Bank National Association and HSBC Bank USA, N.A., each in its respective capacity as a co-documentation agent hereunder.
“ Co-Syndication Agent ” means Wells Fargo Bank Securities, LLC and Bank of America, N.A., each in its respective capacity as a co-syndication agent hereunder.
“ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

7

“ Collateral ” means all property with respect to which any security interest has been granted (or purported to be granted) pursuant to any Security Document.
“ Collateral Account ” means a depositary account or securities custody account constituting Collateral and with respect to which a Control Agreement has been entered into and is in effect.
“ Collateral Agent ” means U.S. Bank National Association or such other institution or institutions, including JPMCB, as the Administrative Agent may from time to time select.
“ Commitment ” means either a Revolving Commitment or a Term Commitment.
“ Communications ” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.01(d).
“ Connection Income Taxes ” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
“ Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“ Control Agreement ” means one or more agreements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among a Borrower, a securities intermediary or depository institution (which may be JPMCB or an Affiliate thereof) holding Collateral, and the Administrative Agent with respect to collection and control of all financial assets or deposits held in the applicable securities custody or depository account maintained by such Borrower with such institution in the United States of America.
“ Credit Documents ” means this Agreement, any Security Document, after the execution and delivery thereof pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each promissory note delivered pursuant to Section 2.10(e), each other document or agreement executed and delivered from time to time by any of the Borrowers in connection with or pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Credit Document, each amendment or waiver hereof or thereof, and each other document related to the Credit Documents which is from time to time designated as a Credit Document by any Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“ DBRS ” means DBRS Limited or any successor.
“ Default ” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
“ Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or (iii) pay over to any Lender Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith

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determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified any Borrower or any Lender Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Agent or a Fronting Bank, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations as of the date of certification) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit under this Agreement, provided that such Lender Party shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Lender’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of (A) a Bankruptcy Event or (B) a Bail-In Action.
“ Designated Person ” means a person or entity.
“ Dividing Person ” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “ Division ”.
“ Division ” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “ Dividing Person ”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.
“ Division Successor ” means any Person that, upon the consummation of a Division of any assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Dividing Person, holds all or any portion of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations previously held by such Dividing Person immediately prior to the consummation of such Division. A Dividing Person which retains any of its assets, liabilities and/or obligations after a Division shall be deemed a Division Successor upon the occurrence of such Division.
“ Dollar Equivalent ” means, on any date of determination (a) with respect to any amount in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount in any Foreign Currency, the equivalent in Dollars of such amount, determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 1.05 using the Exchange Rate with respect to such Foreign Currency at the time in effect under the provisions of such Section.
“ Dollars ” or “ $ ” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
“ EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

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“ EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“ EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“ Effective Date ” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).
“ Electronic Signature ” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.
“ Electronic System ” means any electronic system, including e-mail, e-fax, Intralinks ®, ClearPar®, Debt Domain, Syndtrak and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Agent and any of its respective Related Parties or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.
“ Eligible Collateral ” means Collateral consisting of cash and other obligations and investments fitting within a category specified on Schedule 1.03, subject to the term and maturity criteria set forth therein; provided that no Eligible Collateral shall consist of obligations or investments issued by any “affiliate” (within the meaning of Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended) of, or an “affiliated person” (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act) of, any Lender.
“ Environmental Laws ” means all applicable laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material.
“ Environmental Liability ” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Parent or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing; provided that the definition of “Environmental Liability” shall not include any liability arising out of any insurance policy issued by the Parent, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary thereof.
“ Equity Interests ” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person (in each case, whether voting or non-voting or common or preferred), and in

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each case, any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.
“ ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
“ ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with any Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“ ERISA Event ” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by any Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by any Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
“ EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.
“ Euro ” or “ € ” means the single currency unit of the Participating Member States.
“ Eurocurrency ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate.
“ Event of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.
“ Exchange Rate ” means on any day, for purposes of determining the Dollar Equivalent of any currency other than Dollars, the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into Dollars at 11:00 a.m. Local Time on such day on the Reuters Currency pages, if available, for such currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters Currency pages, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, or, in the absence of such an agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent in the market where its foreign currency

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exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about such time as the Administrative Agent shall elect after determining that such rates shall be the basis for determining the Exchange Rate, on such date for the purchase of Dollars for delivery two Business Days later; provided that if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Administrative Agent may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
“ Exchange Rate Date ” means, if on such date any outstanding Loan or Letter of Credit is (or any Loan or Letter of Credit that has been requested at such time would be) denominated in a currency other than Dollars, each of:
(a)      the last Business Day of each calendar month,
(b)      if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Business Day designated as an Exchange Rate Date by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, and
(c)      each date (with such date to be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) that is on or about the date of (i) a Borrowing Request or an Interest Election Request with respect to any Revolving Borrowing or (ii) each request for the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit.
“ Existing Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.18.
“ Excluded Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient,
(a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes,
(b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Parent under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office,
(c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(f) or (g),
(d) any U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, and

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(e) in the case of a Lender, United Kingdom income tax deductible at source from interest payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable participation in a Loan:
(i) if, on the date on which the payment of interest falls due, the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a deduction on account of United Kingdom income tax if the Lender had been a Qualifying Lender but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a Qualifying Lender other than as a result of a Change of Tax Law occurring after the date it became a Lender; or
(ii) the relevant Lender is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of paragraph (b)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender and (A) an officer of H.M. Revenue & Customs has given (and not revoked) a direction under section 931 of the Income Tax Act 2007 which relates to the payment and the payment could have been made to the Lender without deduction or withholding for any Taxes if that direction had not been made or (B) the relevant Lender has not given a Tax Confirmation and the payment could have been made to the Lender without deduction or withholding for any Taxes if the Lender had given a Tax Confirmation, on the basis that the Tax Confirmation would have enabled the UK Borrower to have formed a reasonable belief that the payment was an “excepted payment” for the purposes of section 930 of the Income Tax Act 2007; or
(iii) the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the UK Borrower making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without deduction or withholding for any Taxes had that Lender complied with its relevant obligations under Section 2.17(g)(ii) or 2.17(g)(iii) (as applicable); or
(iv) if such Lender acquired such participation in the Loan or Commitment by way of an Assignment and Assumption (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Parent under Section 2.19(b)), except to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable participation in the Loan or Commitment.
“ Existing Letter of Credit ” means the letters of credit identified on Schedule 1.01.
“ Existing Termination Date ” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.22(a).
“ Extending Lender ” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.22(b).
“ Extension Date ” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.22(a).
“ FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement,

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treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing.
“ Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate, provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
“ Financial Officer ” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of any Borrower.
“ Fitch ” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. (or any successor).
“ Foreign Currency ” means Euros, Sterling or, solely with respect to Letters of Credit, Australian Dollars.
“ Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the applicable Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the applicable Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which such Borrower is resident for tax purposes.
“ Foreign Pension Plan ” means any plan, fund (including, without limitation, any superannuation fund) or other similar program established or maintained outside the United States by a Borrower or any Subsidiary primarily for the benefit of employees of such Borrower or any one or more of the Subsidiaries residing outside the United States, which plan, fund or other similar program provides, or results in, retirement income, a deferral of income in contemplation of retirement or payments to be made upon termination or severance of employment, and which plan is not subject to ERISA or the Code.
“ Fronted Letter of Credit ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).
“ Fronted Unpaid Drawing ” means any unreimbursed LC Disbursement with respect to a Fronted Letter of Credit.
“ Fronting Bank ” means any Revolving Lender (or any Affiliate thereof) which is requested by the Borrower, and which, in its sole discretion, agrees in writing, to issue one or more Fronted Letters of Credit hereunder pursuant to Section 2.06 and, with respect to any Fronted Letter of Credit, means the issuer thereof.
“ Fronting Participant ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).
“ GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

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“ Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity, including any insurance commissioner or other insurance regulatory authority, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
“ Guarantee ” of or by any Person (the “ guarantor ”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided , that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee made by any guarantor shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guarantor may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee, unless (in the case of a primary obligation that is not Indebtedness) such primary obligation and the maximum amount for which such guarantor may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee shall be such guarantor’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Borrowers in good faith.
“ Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“ Impacted Interest Period ” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “LIBO Rate.”
“ Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has

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been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (k) all Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities and (l) all Trust Preferred Securities and similarly structured indebtedness. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
“ Indemnified Taxes ” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower under any Credit Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes.
“ Industry Loss Warranty ” means an agreement, whether in the form of a reinsurance agreement or a Swap Agreement or other similar agreement entered into by any Insurance Subsidiary in accordance with its customary insurance or reinsurance underwriting procedures, which creates a payment obligation arising from an industry wide loss.
“ Ineligible Institution ” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.04(b).
“ Insurance Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary which is licensed by any Governmental Authority to engage in the insurance business including, without limitation, issuing Primary Policies and/or entering into Reinsurance Agreements.
“ Interest Election Request ” means a request by the Borrower Representative to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08.
“ Interest Payment Date ” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December and (b) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period.
“ Interest Period ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter (or twelve months if consented to by all of the Lenders), as the Borrower Representative may elect; provided , that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurocurrency Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall

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be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
“ Interpolated Rate ” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the LIBO Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period and (b) the LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that LIBO Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time.
“ IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“ Issuing Agent ” means JPMCB, in its capacity as the issuing agent of Several Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i). The Issuing Agent may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Issuing Agent acting as the issuing agent of the Several Letters of Credit, in which case the term “Issuing Agent” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Several Letters of Credit for which such Affiliate acts as Issuing Agent.
“ JPMCB ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association, and its successors.
“ LC Disbursement ” means a payment made by a Revolving Lender (in the case of a Several Letter of Credit) or a Fronting Bank (in the case of a Fronted Letter of Credit) pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
“ LC Exposure ” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrowers at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage under the Revolving Credit Facility of the total LC Exposure at such time.
“ LC Issuer ” means each of the Issuing Agent and each Fronting Bank.
“ Lenders ” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or as provided in Section 2.09(d), other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.
“ Lender Parent ” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.

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“ Lender Party ” means the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Agent, each Fronting Bank and each other Lender.
“ Letter of Credit ” means any and each of the Several Letters of Credit and the Fronted Letters of Credit.
“ Leverage Ratio ” means at any time, the ratio of Total Debt at such time to Total Capitalization at such time.
“ LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any applicable currency and for any Interest Period, the LIBO Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “ Impacted Interest Period ”) with respect to the applicable currency then the LIBO Rate shall be the Interpolated Rate.
“ LIBO Screen Rate ” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any applicable currency and for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for the relevant currency for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
“ Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.
“ Limited Fronting Lender ” means any Revolving Lender which is an NAIC Approved Bank or any other Person acceptable to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent which is listed on the NAIC Bank List, in each case, to the extent that such Person agrees (in its sole and absolute discretion) to be an issuer with respect to any Non-NAIC Approved Bank’s Applicable Percentage of Several Letters of Credit outstanding and/or issued during the period that such Revolving Lender is not listed on the NAIC Bank List, all pursuant to a Limited Fronting Lender Agreement.
“ Limited Fronting Lender Agreement ” has the meaning provided in Section 2.06(a)(v).

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“ LLC ” means any Person that is a limited liability company under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation.
“ Loans ” means a Revolving Loan and/or a Term Loan, as applicable.
“ Loan Value ” means, with respect to any item of Eligible Collateral, the value assigned to such Collateral by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its sole reasonable discretion. Such value shall be determined on the basis of the advance rates set forth on Schedule 1.03 hereto.  The Administrative Agent shall make a determination of the Loan Value of the Eligible Collateral at such time or times as it shall determine, but in no event less frequently than twice per month. 
“ Local Time ” means (a) with respect to a Loan or Borrowing denominated in Dollars, Chicago time and (b) with respect to a Loan or Borrowing denominated in any Foreign Currency, London time.
“ Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Parent and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrowers, taken as a whole, to perform any of their payment or other material obligations under this Agreement or any other Credit Document or (c) the material rights of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under this Agreement or any other Credit Document.
“ Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrowers and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $30,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of a Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any legally enforceable netting agreements) that such Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.
“ Maximum Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.13.
“ Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (or any successor).
“ Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“ NAIC ” means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor thereto, or in lieu thereof, any other association, agency or other organization performing substantially similar advisory, coordination or other like functions among insurance departments, insurance commissions and similar governmental authorities of the various states of the United States of America toward the promotion of uniformity in the practices of such governmental authorities.

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“ NAIC Approved Bank ” means (a) any bank listed on the most current list of banks approved by the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC (the “ NAIC Bank List ”) or (b) any Revolving Lender as to which its Limited Fronting Lender is a bank listed on the NAIC Bank List.
“ Net Income ” means, for any computation period, with respect to the Parent on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, cumulative net income earned during such period (determined before the deduction of minority interests) as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“ Net Worth Maintenance Agreement ” means net worth maintenance agreements and similar agreements entered into by any Borrower or any of its respective Subsidiaries with respect to any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.
“ Non-Extending Lender ” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.22(b).
“ Non-NAIC Approved Bank ” means, at any time, any Lender that is not an NAIC Approved Bank.
“ Non-Consenting Lender ” means a Lender which has not consented to a proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender affected thereby,” as to which the consent of such Lender is required and the consent of the Required Lenders has been obtained.
“ Non-Pro Rata Issuance Election ” means an election by the Borrowers to have a Several Letter of Credit issued, renewed, extended or amended on an adjusted pro rata basis, as more fully described in Section 2.19(c).
“ Non-Replaced Lender ” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.22(e).
“ Notice Date ” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.22(b).
“ NYFRB ” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
“ NYFRB Rate ” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“ Obligations ” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all LC Exposure, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations and indebtedness (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), obligations and liabilities of any of the Borrowers to any of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any indemnified party under this

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Agreement, individually or collectively, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, arising or incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or in respect of any of the Loans made or reimbursement or other obligations incurred or any of the Letters of Credit or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof.
“ Off-Balance Sheet Liability ” of a Person means (a) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, (b) any liability under any Sale and Leaseback Transaction other than Capital Lease Obligations, (c) any liability under any so-called “synthetic lease” arrangement or transaction entered into by such Person, or (d) any obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheets of such Person.
“ Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Taxes (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Credit Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document).
“ Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Credit Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19).
“ Overnight Bank Funding Rate ” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight Eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate (from and after such date as the NYFRB shall commence to publish such composite rate).
“ Parent ” means Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., a company formed under the laws of Bermuda.
“ Participant ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(c).
“ Participant Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).
“ Participating Member State ” means any member state of the European Communities that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with the legislation of the European Community relating to the Economic and Monetary Union.

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“ PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
“ Permitted Acquisition ” means the acquisition by the Parent or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof of an Acquired Entity or Business (including by way of merger of such Acquired Entity or Business with and into the Parent (so long as the Parent is the surviving corporation) or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof (so long as the Wholly-Owned Subsidiary is the surviving corporation); provided that (a) the Acquired Entity or Business acquired pursuant to the respective Permitted Acquisition is in a business permitted by Section 6.03(b); and (b) in the case of a stock acquisition, such acquisition shall have been approved by the board of directors of the Acquired Entity or Business.
“ Permitted Encumbrances ” means:
(a)      Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(b)      carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(c)      pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business for insurance regulatory or licensing purposes or in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(d)      deposits required for insurance regulatory or licensing purposes or to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e)      judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII;
(f)      easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of a Borrower or any Subsidiary; and
(g)      licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to other Persons not materially interfering with the conduct of the business of a Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(h)      Liens incurred pursuant to ordinary course investing, clearing and settling activities;
(i)      bankers’ Liens, rights of setoff and other similar Liens not granted to secure specific Indebtedness existing solely with respect to cash and cash equivalents on deposit in one or

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more accounts maintained by a Borrower or any Subsidiary, in each case granted in the ordinary course of business in favor of the bank or banks with which such accounts are maintained;
(j)      any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(k)      any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by a Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets (other than proceeds) of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(l)      Liens securing Indebtedness at no time exceeding $100,000,000 in outstanding aggregate principal amount;
(m)      Liens securing the Obligations; and
(n)      Liens upon assets subject to, and arising out of, (i) Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 6.11 or (ii) Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness, at no time exceeding $150,000,000 in outstanding aggregate principal amount for (i) and (ii) combined;
provided that the term “ Permitted Encumbrances ” shall not, with respect to clauses (a)-(i) above, include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
“ Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person, any Indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured, including Capital Lease Obligations, incurred by such Person to finance the acquisition of fixed assets, so long as (a) at the time of such incurrence, no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such incurrence, (b) such Indebtedness has a scheduled maturity and is not due on demand and (c) such Indebtedness does not exceed the lower of the fair market value or the cost of the applicable fixed assets on the date acquired.
“ Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“ Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

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“ Plan Asset Regulations ” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq. , as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.
“ Platform ” means Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.
“ Primary Policies ” means any insurance policies issued by any Insurance Subsidiary.
“ Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.
“ PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“ QPP Certificate ” means a credit certificate for the purposes of the Qualifying Private Placement Regulations 2015 (2015 No. 2002), given in the form set out in Schedule 2.17(g).
“ QPP Lender ” means a Lender which has delivered a QPP Certificate, provided that such QPP Certificate is not cancelled or withdrawn for the purposes of the Qualifying Private Placement Regulations 2015 (2015 No. 2002) and which is not a connected person for the purposes of such regulations.
“ Qualifying Lender ” means (a) a Lender which is a building society (as defined for the purposes of section 880 of the Income Tax Act 2007) making an advance under a Credit Document; or (b) a Lender which is beneficially entitled to the interest payable under any Credit Document and: (i) there is no duty to deduct United Kingdom income tax in respect of that interest by virtue of section 879 of the Income Tax Act 2007, or (ii) which is a Lender who satisfies the conditions in section 933, section 934 or section 937 of the Income Tax Act 2007 in respect of the person to whom such interest is paid, or (iii) which is a Treaty Lender, or (iv) which is a QPP Lender.
“ Quotation Date ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing and any Interest Period, (i) if the currency is Euro, the day two TARGET Days before the first day of such Interest Period and (ii) if the currency is Dollars or Sterling, the day two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest period (or such day as the Administrative Agent shall determine is the day on which it is market practice in the relevant interbank market for prime banks to give quotations for deposits in the currency of such Borrowing for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period).
“ Rating ” has the meaning set forth in Schedule 1.02.

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“ Recipient ” means, as applicable, (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any LC Issuer.
“ Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(b).
“ Reinsurance Agreements ” means any agreement, contract, treaty, certificate or other arrangement whereby a Borrower or any Subsidiary agrees to assume from or reinsure an insurer or reinsurer all or part of the liability of such insurer or reinsurer under a policy or policies of insurance issued by such insurer or reinsurer.
“ Related Parties ” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.
“ Removal Effective Date ” has the meaning assigned to it in Article VIII.
“ Required Lenders ” means, at any time, subject to Section 2.21, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of (a) the Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Revolving Commitments and (b) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans.
“ Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Parent or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in the Parent or any Subsidiary or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in the Parent or any Subsidiary.
“ Revolving Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of Revolving Loans.
“ Revolving Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments is $200,000,000.
“ Revolving Credit Exposure ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure at such time.
“ Revolving Credit Facility ” means the revolving credit facility established pursuant to Article II hereof.

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“ Revolving Lender ” means a Lender having a Revolving Commitment or Revolving Credit Exposure.
“ Revolving Loan ” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a).
“ Revolving Maturity Date ” means November 2, 2023, subject to extension pursuant to Section 2.22.
“ S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business (or any successor).
“ Sale and Leaseback Transaction ” means any sale or other transfer of property by any Person with the intent to lease such property as lessee.
“ Sanctioned Country ” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).
“ Sanctioned Person ” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or any other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) or (d) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.
“ Sanctions ” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or any other relevant sanctions authority.
“ SAP ” means, with respect to any Insurance Subsidiary, the statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance commissioner (or other similar authority) as of the date hereof in the jurisdiction of incorporation of such Insurance Subsidiary for the preparation of annual statements and other financial reports by insurance companies of the same type as such Insurance Subsidiary.
“ SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America or any succeeding Governmental Authority thereto.
“ Secured Letter of Credit ” means a Letter of Credit issued at the request of a Borrower which has been designated as a “Secured Letter of Credit” in the applicable Letter of Credit Application.

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“ Security Agreement ” means, individually and collectively, each security agreement or other collateral document, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, entered into between the Administrative Agent and a Borrower pursuant hereto.
“ Security Documents ” means the Security Agreement, each Control Agreement and each other document or instrument pursuant to which security or collateral is from time to time provided for the obligations of the Borrowers hereunder.
“ Several Letter of Credit ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(a).
“ Several Unpaid Drawing ” means any unreimbursed LC Disbursement with respect to a Several Letter of Credit.
“ Significant Insurance Subsidiary ” means any Significant Subsidiary which is an Insurance Subsidiary.
“ Significant Subsidiary ” of a Person means a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1 02(w) of Regulation S-X of the SEC (17 CFR Part 210). Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a “Significant Subsidiary” shall mean a Significant Subsidiary of any of the Borrowers; provided that any entity that is a Significant Subsidiary on the Effective Date or becomes a Significant Subsidiary thereafter shall remain a Significant Subsidiary for all purposes of this Agreement.
“ Solvent ” means, when used with respect to a Person, that (a) the fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is in excess of the total amount of the present value of its liabilities (including for purposes of this definition all liabilities (including loss reserves as determined by such Person), whether or not reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP and whether direct or indirect, fixed or contingent, secured or unsecured, disputed or undisputed), (b) such Person is able to pay its debts or obligations in the ordinary course as they mature and (c) such Person does not have unreasonably small capital to carry out its business as conducted and as proposed to be conducted. “Solvency” shall have a correlative meaning.
“ Special Purpose Entity ” means any Subsidiary formed after the date hereof for the sole purpose of incurring Indebtedness, which Subsidiary (a) promptly remits to a Borrower the net proceeds of any such Indebtedness by way of loan or otherwise and (b) has received from the Parent and its Subsidiaries aggregate capital contributions or other payments in respect of the Equity Interests thereof not exceeding five percent of the total assets of such Subsidiary.
“ Specified Amount ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Total Debt.
“ Statutory Reserve Rate ” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “ Eurocurrency Liabilities ” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall

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include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.
“ Sterling ” or “ £ ” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
“ Subordinated Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness the payment of which is subordinated to any of the obligations of the applicable Borrower or Borrowers hereunder or in connection herewith, including without limitation the obligations of the Borrowers in respect of the Trust Preferred Securities.
“ subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the “ parent ”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.
“ Subsidiary ” means any subsidiary of the Parent.
“ Substantial Portion ” means, with respect to the property of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, property which represents more than 10% of the consolidated assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as would be shown in the consolidated financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the beginning of the twelve-month period ending with the last day of the fiscal quarter or year end for which financial statements have most recently been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), as applicable, preceding the date upon which such determination is made.
“ Swap Agreement ” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of a Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.
“ Tangible Net Worth ” means, with respect to the Parent, an amount equal to (a) the Parent’s total shareholder’s equity determined in accordance with GAAP, minus (b) the aggregate book value of the intangible assets, including goodwill, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

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“ TARGET2 ” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET2) payment system (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system (if any) reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) for the settlement of payments in Euro.
“ TARGET Day ” means any day on which TARGET2 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system, if any, determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.
“ Tax Confirmation ” means a confirmation by a Lender that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Credit Document falls within paragraph (b)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender .
“ Taxes ” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“ Term Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of Term Loans.
“ Term Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make a Term Loan hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Term Loan. The amount of each Lender’s Term Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Term Commitments is $125,000,000.
“ Term Loan ” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s pro-rata portion of the Term Borrowing made by the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(b) and, with respect to all Lenders, the aggregate of all such pro-rata portions.
“ Term Loan Facility ” means the term loan facility established pursuant to Article II hereof.
“ Term Loan Maturity Date ” means November 2 , 2021.
“ Total Capitalization ” means an amount equal to the sum of Tangible Net Worth of the Parent plus Total Debt plus (without duplication) the Specified Amount.
“ Total Debt ” means all Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, which appears on a balance sheet calculated in accordance with GAAP plus, (a) without duplication (i) the face amount of all outstanding letters of credit in respect of which the Parent or any Subsidiary has any actual or contingent reimbursement obligation (excluding letters of credit which are issued to support the reinsurance obligations of Subsidiaries of the Parent which have been fully collateralized and letters of credit which are issued to support the capital requirements at Lloyd’s of London, otherwise known as “Funds at Lloyd’s”), (ii) the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any legally enforceable netting agreements) that the Parent and its Subsidiaries would be required to pay if all Swap Agreements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries

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with respect to interest on indebtedness for money borrowed were terminated at any date of determination and (iii) the principal amount of all Guarantees of Indebtedness by the Parent and its Subsidiaries; provided that this clause (iii) shall not include Guarantees between or among the Parent and/or its consolidated Subsidiaries, minus (b) that portion of the outstanding principal amount of all Trust Preferred Securities and similar long-term hybrid capital that is deemed to constitute equity, as determined in accordance with S&P’s methodology at such time (but only to the extent that such amount does not exceed 15% of Total Capitalization) the amount described in this clause (b) being the “Specified Amount”.
“ Transactions ” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrowers of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions hereunder, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.
“ Treaty Lender ” means a Lender which is not a QPP Lender and which (a) is treated as resident of a Treaty State for the purposes of the relevant Treaty, (b) does not carry on a business in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment with which the Lender’s participation in the Loans or Commitment is effectively connected and (c) which is entitled to claim the benefits of such Treaty with respect to payments made by any UK Borrower hereunder.
“ Treaty State ” means a jurisdiction which has entered into a double taxation agreement (a “Treaty”) with the United Kingdom which makes provision for full exemption from Tax imposed by the United Kingdom on interest.
“ Trust Preferred Securities ” means those securities listed on Schedule 1.04 hereto.
“ Trust Preferred Security Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of a Borrower or a Subsidiary arising under Trust Preferred Securities.
“ Type ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.
“ UK Borrower ” means any Borrower (i) that is organized or formed under the laws of the United Kingdom or (ii) payments from which under this Agreement or any Credit Document are subject to withholding Taxes imposed by the laws of the United Kingdom.
“ Unsecured Letter of Credit ” means a Letter of Credit which is not a Secured Letter of Credit.
“ U.S. Person ” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(B)(3).
“ Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” of a Person means (a) any subsidiary all of the outstanding voting securities of which shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly,

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by such Person or one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person, or (b) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or similar business organization 100% of the ownership interests having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled (other than in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries, director’s qualifying shares and/or other nominal amounts of shares required to be held by Persons other than the Parent and its Subsidiaries under applicable law).
“ Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
“ Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
SECTION 1.02.      Classification of Loans and Borrowings . For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g. , a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type ( e.g. , a “Eurocurrency Loan”) or by Class and Type ( e.g. , a “Eurocurrency Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g. , a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type ( e.g. , a “Eurocurrency Borrowing”) or by Class and Type ( e.g. , a “Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing”).
SECTION 1.03.      Terms Generally . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be

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construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
SECTION 1.04.      Accounting Terms; GAAP . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower Representative notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrowers request an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, (i) without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of any Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein, and (ii) in a manner such that any obligations relating to a lease that, in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Effective Date, would be accounted for by the Parent as an operating lease shall be accounted for as obligations relating to an operating lease and not as obligations relating to a Capitalized Lease (and shall not constitute Indebtedness hereunder).
SECTION 1.05.      Foreign Currency Calculations . (a) For purposes of determining the Dollar Equivalent of any Advance denominated in a Foreign Currency or any related amount, the Administrative Agent shall determine the Exchange Rate as of the applicable Exchange Rate Date with respect to each Foreign Currency in which any requested or outstanding Advance or Letter of Credit is denominated and shall apply such Exchange Rates to determine such amount (in each case after giving effect to any Advance to be made or repaid on or prior to the applicable date for such calculation).
(a)      For purposes of any determination hereunder (including determinations under Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.04, 6.09 or 6.10 or under Article VII), all amounts incurred, outstanding or proposed to be incurred or outstanding in currencies other than Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at the appropriate currency Exchange Rate; provided that no Default shall arise as a result of any limitation set forth in Dollars in Section 6.01 or 6.02 being exceeded solely as a result of changes in Exchange Rates from those rates applicable at the time or times Indebtedness or Liens were initially consummated in reliance on the exceptions under such Sections. For purposes of any determination under Section 6.04, 6.09 or 6.10, the amount of each investment, asset disposition or other applicable transaction denominated in a currency other than Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at the applicable Exchange Rate. Such Exchange Rates shall be determined in good faith by the Borrowers.

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SECTION 1.06.      Interest Rates; LIBOR Notification . The interest rate on Eurocurrency Loans is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate, which is derived from the London interbank offered rate. The London interbank offered rate is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short-term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that, after the end of 2021, it would no longer persuade or compel contributing banks to make rate submissions to the ICE Benchmark Administration (together with any successor to the ICE Benchmark Administrator, the “ IBA ”) for purposes of the IBA setting the London interbank offered rate. As a result, it is possible that commencing in 2022, the London interbank offered rate may no longer be available or may no longer be deemed an appropriate reference rate upon which to determine the interest rate on Eurocurrency Loans. In light of this eventuality, public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to identify new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of the London interbank offered rate. In the event that the London interbank offered rate is no longer available or in certain other circumstances as set forth in Section 2.14(c) of this Agreement, Section 2.14(c) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent will notify the Borrowers, pursuant to Section 2.14, in advance of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on Eurocurrency Loans is based. However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of “LIBO Rate” or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate, as it may or may not be adjusted pursuant to Section 2.14(c), will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the LIBO Rate or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability.
ARTICLE II     

The Credits
SECTION 2.01.      Commitments . (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans denominated in Dollars and Foreign Currencies to the Borrowers from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the total Revolving Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.
(a)      Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make a Term Loan denominated in Dollars to Parent on the Effective Date in a principal amount that will not result in (a) such Lender’s Term Loan exceeding such Lender’s Term Commitment or (b) the sum of the Term Loans exceeding the total Term Commitments; provided that the joint and several liability provisions of Section 2.20 shall remain in full force and effect with respect to the Term Loan. No amount of the Term Loan which is repaid or prepaid by the Borrowers may be reborrowed hereunder.

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SECTION 2.02.      Loans and Borrowings . (a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments. Each Term Loan shall be made as a part of a Borrowing consisting of Term Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Term Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required hereby.
(a)      Subject to Section 2.14, (i) each Revolving Borrowing denominated in Dollars shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as the Borrower Representative may request in accordance herewith and (ii) each Revolving Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be comprised entirely of Eurocurrency Loans. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurocurrency Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(b)      At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or, for any Foreign Currency Borrowing, an approximate equivalent thereof as determined by the Administrative Agent) and not less than $1,000,000 (or, for any Foreign Currency Borrowing, an approximate equivalent thereof as determined by the Administrative Agent). At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount (i) that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Revolving Commitments or (ii) that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e). Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of twelve Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowings outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Loans which are not denominated in Dollars may be made in amounts and increments in the applicable Foreign Currency satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(c)      Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrowers shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Term Loan Maturity Date or Revolving Maturity Date, as applicable.
(d)      Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each Lender at its option may make any ABR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan by causing any domestic or foreign office, branch or Affiliate of such Lender (an “ Applicable Lending Installation ”) to make such Loan that has been designated by such Lender to the Administrative Agent. All terms of this Agreement shall apply to any such Applicable Lending Installation of such Lender and the Loans and any Notes issued hereunder shall be deemed held by each Lender for the benefit of any such Applicable Lending Installation. Each Lender may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative, designate replacement or additional Applicable Lending Installations through which

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Loans will be made by it and for whose account Loan payments are to be made. Any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 2.03.      Requests for Borrowings . To request a Borrowing, the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Local Time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Local Time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy (or by electronic communication if, after the date hereof, arrangements for doing so shall be approved by the Administrative Agent) to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower Representative. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i)      the Borrower to which the proceeds of the requested Borrowing shall be disbursed;
(ii)      the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(iii)      the currency (which may be Dollars or a Foreign Currency) in which such Borrowing is to be denominated;
(iv)      the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(v)      in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing;
(vi)      in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and
(vii)      the location and number of the account of a Borrower to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07.
If no election as to the Type of such Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing, unless such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency, in which case such Borrowing shall be a Eurocurrency Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurocurrency Borrowing, then the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each applicable Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.04.      [Intentionally Omitted] .

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SECTION 2.05.      [Intentionally Omitted] .
SECTION 2.06.      Letters of Credit . (a) Several Letters of Credit .
(i)      Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower Representative may request the Issuing Agent to issue, on behalf of each Revolving Lender, letters of credit denominated in Dollars or Foreign Currencies for the joint and several account of the Borrowers, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C or in such other form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Agent (each such letter of credit, a “ Several Letter of Credit ” and collectively, the “ Several Letters of Credit ”) (which form may include having such Several Letters of Credit, though issued for the joint and several account of the Borrowers, reflect on their face Subsidiaries of the Parent as the account party and name as the beneficiaries thereof commercial counterparties or creditors of such Subsidiaries), at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. It is the intention of the parties to this Agreement that Several Letters of Credit issued to support reinsurance-related obligations shall have terms and conditions necessary to qualify such Several Letters of Credit as permissible collateral under applicable law and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuing Agent and the Revolving Lenders agree to issue such Several Letters of Credit. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by any Borrower to, or entered into by any Borrower with, the Issuing Agent relating to any Several Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.
(ii)      By the issuance of a Several Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Several Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) by the Issuing Agent and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Agent or the Revolving Lenders, each Revolving Lender hereby acquires an obligation under such Several Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage under the Revolving Credit Facility (or other applicable share if the Borrowers have made a Non-Pro Rata Issuance Election with respect to such Several Letters of Credit) of the aggregate amount to be drawn under such Several Letter of Credit (subject to the provisions in this Agreement regarding Limited Fronting Lenders). The obligations of each Revolving Lender under and in respect of each Several Letter of Credit are several, and the failure by any Revolving Lender to perform its obligations hereunder or under any Letter of Credit shall not affect the obligations of the Borrowers toward any other party hereto nor shall any other such party be liable for the failure by such Revolving Lender to perform its obligations hereunder or under any Several Letter of Credit.
(iii)      Each Several Letter of Credit shall be executed and delivered by the Issuing Agent in the name and on behalf of, and as attorney-in-fact for, each Revolving Lender and the Issuing Agent shall act under each Several Letter of Credit, and each Several Letter of Credit shall expressly provide that the Issuing Agent shall act, as the agent of each Revolving Lender, to (a) receive drafts, other demands for payment and other documents presented by the beneficiary under such Several Letter of Credit, (b) determine whether such drafts, demands and documents are in compliance with the terms and conditions of such Several

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Letter of Credit and (c) notify such Revolving Lender and the Borrowers that a valid drawing has been made and the date that the related Several Unpaid Drawing is to be made (and the Issuing Agent agrees to promptly make such determination and give such notice to the Revolving Lenders and the Borrowers); provided that, the Issuing Agent shall have no obligation or liability for any Several Unpaid Drawing under such Several Letter of Credit, and each Several Letter of Credit shall expressly so provide. Each Revolving Lender hereby irrevocably appoints and designates the Issuing Agent as its attorney-in-fact, acting through any duly authorized officer of the Issuing Agent, to execute and deliver in the name and on behalf of such Revolving Lender each Several Letter of Credit to be issued by such Revolving Lender hereunder and to take the other actions described in clauses (a) through (c) above. Promptly upon the request of the Issuing Agent, each Revolving Lender will furnish to the Issuing Agent such powers of attorney or other evidence as any beneficiary of any Several Letter of Credit may reasonably request in order to demonstrate that the Issuing Agent has the power to act as attorney-in-fact for such Lender to execute and deliver such Several Letter of Credit.
(iv)      Each Revolving Lender in respect of the issuance of Letters of Credit represents that on the date of this Agreement (or, if later, the date such Revolving Lender becomes a party to this Agreement) it is a NAIC Approved Bank or it has in effect a Limited Fronting Agreement with a Limited Fronting Lender. Each Revolving Lender in respect of the issuance of Letters of Credit agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts in order to, at all times, (i) be listed on the NAIC Approved Bank List or (ii) maintain in effect a Limited Fronting Agreement with a Limited Fronting Lender. If at any time any Revolving Lender shall cease to be a NAIC Approved Bank, such Revolving Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent.
(v)      In the event that any Revolving Lender or any other Person acceptable to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent which is listed on the NAIC Bank List agrees (in its sole and absolute discretion) to act as a Limited Fronting Lender for any Non-NAIC Approved Bank pursuant to which such Limited Fronting Lender will itself honor the obligations of such Non-NAIC Approved Bank in respect of Several Letters of Credit as if, and to the extent, such Limited Fronting Bank were originally named on such Several Letters of Credit, and upon such other terms and conditions as such parties may agree (including fees payable by such Non-NAIC Approved Bank to such Limited Fronting Lender) (such agreement, a “ Limited Fronting Lender Agreement ”), the following provisions shall apply (in addition to any other provisions hereof relating to Limited Fronting Lenders):
(A)      Upon the issuance of any Several Letter of Credit pursuant hereto, with respect to any Non-NAIC Approved Bank under such Several Letter of Credit, each applicable Limited Fronting Lender, in reliance upon the agreement of such Non­ NAIC Approved Bank set forth in this Section, agrees (A) to issue through the Issuing Agent, in addition to its own obligations as a Revolving Lender under such Several Letter of Credit, severally such Several Letter of Credit in an amount equal to such Non-NAIC Approved Bank's Applicable Percentage under the Revolving Credit Facility (or other applicable share if the Borrowers have made a Non-Pro Rata Issuance Election with respect to such Several

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Letters of Credit) of the stated amount of such Several Letter of Credit (or the portion thereof for which such Limited Fronting Lender has agreed to be a Limited Fronting Lender), and (B) to amend or extend each Several Letter of Credit previously issued by it as a Limited Fronting Lender for such Revolving Lender;
(B)      With respect to any Several Letter of Credit issued by a Limited Fronting Lender pursuant to clause (A) above, such Revolving Lender agrees to purchase participations (as provided in Section 2.06(a)(vi)) in the obligations of such Limited Fronting Lender under such Several Letter of Credit attributable to such Revolving Lender for which such Limited Fronting Lender has agreed to act as a Limited Fronting Lender hereunder; and
(C)      Such Revolving Lender in respect of the issuance of Letters of Credit shall promptly furnish a copy of its Limited Fronting Agreement to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Revolving Lender shall have any obligation to agree to act hereunder as a Limited Fronting Lender for any other Person unless such Revolving Lender has entered into a Limited Fronting Lender Agreement in its sole and absolute discretion.
(vi)      In the event any Revolving Lender purchases a participation in the Letter(s) of Credit of its Limited Fronting Lender pursuant to Section 2.06(a)(v), then, without any further action on the part of any party, such Limited Fronting Lender grants to such Revolving Lender, and such Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such Limited Fronting Lender, a participation in such Limited Fronting Lender’s Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share if the Borrowers have made a Non-Pro Rata Issuance Election with respect to such Several Letters of Credit) of the relevant Letters of Credit attributable to such Revolving Lender for which such Limited Fronting Lender has agreed to act as a Limited Fronting Lender hereunder. Each Revolving Lender purchasing a participation hereunder acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire such participations in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, such Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for account of the applicable Limited Fronting Lender an amount equal to the amount of each payment made by such Limited Fronting Lender in respect of the portion of such Letter of Credit in which such Revolving Lender holds a participation, promptly upon the request of such Limited Fronting Lender at any time from the time such payment is made until such payment is reimbursed by the Borrowers or at any time after any reimbursement payment is required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason or at any time as may be set forth in the Limited Fronting Lender Agreement between such Limited Fronting Lender and such Revolving Lender. Such payment by such Revolving Lender shall be made for account of the applicable Limited Fronting Lender without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. To

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the extent that any Revolving Lender has made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse a Limited Fronting Lender in respect of any participation interests purchased hereunder in respect of any Letter of Credit, promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrowers or any other account party pursuant to Section 2.06(e) in respect of such Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to such Limited Fronting Lender and such Revolving Lender, in each case as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender in respect of its participation pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the applicable Limited Fronting Lender for any payment made in any respect of any drawing under a Letter of Credit shall not relieve the Borrower or any other account party of its obligation to reimburse the amount of such drawing pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(b)      Fronted Letters of Credit .
(i)      Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower Representative may request any Fronting Bank to issue (and any Fronting Bank, in its sole discretion may issue), one or more Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or Foreign Currencies for the joint and several account of the Borrowers, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Fronting Bank (each such letter of credit, a “ Fronted Letter of Credit ” and collectively, the “ Fronted Letters of Credit ”) (which form may include having such Fronted Letters of Credit, though issued for the joint and several account of the Borrowers, reflect on their face Subsidiaries of the Parent as the account party and name as the beneficiaries thereof commercial counterparties or creditors of such Subsidiaries), at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by any Borrower to, or entered into by any Borrower with, the Fronting Bank relating to any Fronted Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, the Existing Letter of Credit shall, without any further action by any party, be deemed to have been issued as a Letter of Credit hereunder by JPMCB on the date of such effectiveness and shall for all purposes hereof be treated as a Fronted Letter of Credit under this Agreement.
(ii)      By the issuance of a Fronted Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Fronted Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Fronting Bank or the Revolving Lenders, the Fronting Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from the Fronting Bank (each such Revolving Lender, in its capacity under this Section 2.06(b) a “ Fronting Participant ”), a participation in such Fronted Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage under the Revolving Credit Facility of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Fronted Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Fronting Bank, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by the Fronting Bank under the Fronted Letters of Credit and not reimbursed by the Borrowers on the date due as provided

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in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Fronted Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Fronted Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Upon any change in the Revolving Commitments or Applicable Percentages with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility of the Revolving Lenders pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.20), it is hereby agreed that, with respect to all outstanding Fronted Letters of Credit and Fronted Unpaid Drawings, there shall be an automatic adjustment to the participations pursuant to this Section 2.06 to reflect the new Applicable Percentages with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility of the assignor and assignee Revolving Lender or of all Revolving Lenders with Revolving Commitments, as the case may be.
(iii)      In the event that any Fronting Bank makes any payment under any Fronted Letter of Credit and the Borrowers fail to make such payment when due pursuant to Section 2.06(e), such amount (which, if denominated in a currency other than Dollars, shall be converted into Dollars at the Exchange Rate) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Fronting Participant of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrowers in respect thereof and such Fronting Participant’s Applicable Percentage under the Revolving Credit Facility thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Fronting Participant shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage under the Revolving Credit Facility of the payment then due from the Borrowers, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Revolving Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Fronting Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrowers pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Fronting Bank, or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Fronting Bank, then to such Revolving Lenders and the Fronting Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Fronting Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.
(c)      Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions . To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower Representative shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable LC Issuer) to the applicable LC Issuer and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of

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a Several Letter of Credit or Fronted Letter of Credit, as applicable, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (d) of this Section), the amount and currency of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, whether such Letter of Credit will be a Secured Letter of Credit or an Unsecured Letter of Credit and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the applicable LC Issuer, the Borrower Representative also shall submit a letter of credit application on the applicable LC Issuer’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit each Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed the Dollar Equivalent of an amount equal to the Revolving Commitments and (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the total Revolving Commitments.
(d)      Expiration Date . Unless approved by the applicable LC Issuer and each Revolving Lender, each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the date one year or less after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year or less after such renewal or extension); provided that any Letter of Credit will include, if requested, customary “evergreen” provisions; provided further that (i) no Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date more than one year after the Revolving Maturity Date, (ii) the applicable LC Issuer shall be under no obligation to renew or extend any Letter of Credit after the Revolving Maturity Date and (iii) with respect to of any Letter of Credit expiring after the Revolving Maturity Date, the Borrowers shall cash collateralize such Letter of Credit on or before the date five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Maturity Date in the manner and to the extent described in Section 2.06(j) .
(e)      Reimbursement . If any Revolving Lender or any Fronting Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, it may notify the Borrowers and shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Borrowers) and the Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent, for the account of such Revolving Lender or such Fronting Bank, as applicable, an amount equal to such LC Disbursement calculated as of the date such LC Disbursement is made not later than 3:00 p.m., Local Time, on the second Business Day following the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower Representative shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower Representative prior to such time on such date, then not later than 3:00 p.m., Local Time, on (i) the second Business Day following the date that the Borrower Representative receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the second Business Day after the day that the Borrower Representative receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that the Borrowers may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 (but without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in such Section) that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing in an equivalent amount of such LC

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Disbursement and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers’ obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing.
(f)      Obligations Absolute . The Borrowers’ obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by any Revolving Lender or any Fronting Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrowers’ obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Lenders nor any LC Issuer, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of applicable LC Issuer; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any LC Issuer from liability to the Borrowers to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrowers that are caused by the such LC Issuer’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any LC Issuer (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such LC Issuer shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the applicable LC Issuer may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
(g)      Disbursement Procedures . The applicable LC Issuer shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The applicable LC Issuer shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such demand for payment and whether such LC Issuer has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse such LC Issuer and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

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(h)      Interim Interest . If any Revolving Lender or any Fronting Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrowers reimburse such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if the Borrowers fail to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of (i) each Revolving Lender pro rata in accordance with its Applicable Percentage with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, in the case of Several Letters of Credit or (ii) the applicable Fronting Bank, in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (b)(iii) of this Section to reimburse the applicable Fronting Bank shall be for the account of such Revolving Lender to the extent of such payment.
(i)      Replacement of the Issuing Agent . The Issuing Agent may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Lenders, the replaced Issuing Agent and the successor Issuing Agent. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrowers shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Agent pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Agent shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Agent under this Agreement with respect to the applicable Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Agent” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Agent, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Agent, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Agent hereunder, the replaced Issuing Agent shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Agent under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
(j)      Cash Collateralization . If (i) any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and if all outstanding Loans have been declared to be due and payable pursuant to Article VII, then, on the Business Day that the Borrowers receive notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrowers shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders, an amount in cash equal to the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrowers described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII or (ii) any Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date after the Revolving Maturity Date, on the date five Business Days prior to the Revolving Maturity Date the Borrowers shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders, (A) in the case of Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars, an amount in cash in Dollars equal to 105% of the face amount of such Letters of Credit and (B) in the case of Letters of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency, in cash in Dollars equal to 120% of the face amount of such Letter of Credit or, at the request of the Issuing Agent or the Fronting

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Bank, as applicable, in cash in the relevant Foreign Currency equal to 105% of the face amount of such Letter of Credit. Any such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrowers’ risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Revolving Lenders or the Fronting Bank, as applicable, for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. If the Borrowers are required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder (i) as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrowers within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived and (ii) as a result of the expiration of a Letter of Credit extending past the Revolving Maturity Date, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrowers within three Business Days after the surrender or expiration of such Letter of Credit.
(k)      LC Issuer Agreements . Each LC Issuer agrees that, unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, such LC Issuer shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the first Business Day of each week, the daily activity (set forth by day) during the immediately preceding week in respect of all Letters of Credit issued by such LC Issuer, including all issuances, extensions, amendments and renewals, all expirations and cancellations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such LC Issuer expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood that such LC Issuer shall not permit any issuance, renewal, extension or amendment resulting in an increase in the amount of any Letter of Credit to occur without first obtaining written confirmation from the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement, (iii) on each Business Day on which such LC Issuer makes any LC Disbursement, the date of such LC Disbursement and the amount of such LC Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrowers fail to reimburse an LC Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such LC Issuer (or any Revolving Lender, with respect to any Several Letter of Credit that such LC Issuer issued) on such day, the date of such failure and the amount and currency of such LC Disbursement and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. Such reports shall be provided to any Lender upon such Lender’s request.
(l)      Collateral for Secured Letters of Credit . If a Borrower requests that any Letter of Credit be issued as a Secured Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.06(c), then at or prior to the time of issuance of such Letter of Credit such Borrower shall deposit (or cause to be deposited) with the Collateral Agent Eligible Collateral having an aggregate Loan Value in an amount which

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results in the aggregate Loan Value of all such Eligible Collateral being at least equal to 100% of the face amount of such Secured Letters of Credit. If at any time the aggregate LC Exposure associated with such Letters of Credit shall exceed the amount of such Eligible Collateral deposited with the Collateral Agent, such Borrower shall, within three Business Days of receipt of written request therefor from the Administrative Agent, deposit (or cause to be deposited) with the Collateral Agent such additional Eligible Collateral as may be required to eliminate such excess. If such Borrower shall fail to provide such additional Eligible Collateral within such time period, such Letter of Credit shall (from and after such third Business Day until such excess has been eliminated) be treated as an Unsecured Letter of Credit for purposes of determining the fees payable to the Lenders with respect thereto pursuant to Section 2.12(b). The Administrative Agent shall determine the Dollar Equivalent of the LC Exposure in respect of Secured Letters of Credit from time to time in its discretion.   For the avoidance of doubt, any cash collateral deposited with the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(j) shall constitute Eligible Collateral under this Section 2.06(l).
(m)      Adjustment of Applicable Percentages. Upon (i) each addition of a new Revolving Lender hereunder and (ii) each change in the Revolving Commitment of a Revolving Lender pursuant to this Agreement, including pursuant to an increase in the commitments pursuant to Section 2.09(d) , then (A) in the case of each outstanding Several Letter of Credit, with the consent of the beneficiary thereunder to the extent required by the terms thereof or under applicable law (including, if applicable, the Uniform Customs and Practices for Documentary Credits governing such Several Letter of Credit), the Administrative Agent shall promptly amend such Several Letter of Credit to specify the Revolving Lenders that are parties thereto, after giving effect to such event, and such Revolving Lenders’ respective Applicable Percentages (or other applicable share if the Borrowers have made a Non-Pro Rata Issuance Election with respect to such Several Letters of Credit) as of the effective date of such amendment and (B) in the case of each outstanding Fronted Letter of Credit, the participation interest of each Revolving Lender therein shall automatically be adjusted to reflect, and each Lender shall have a participation in such Fronted Letter of Credit equal to, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Fronted Letter of Credit after giving effect to such event. However, it is acknowledged by the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Lenders that amendments of outstanding Several Letters of Credit may not be immediately effected. Accordingly, whether or not Several Letters of Credit are amended as contemplated hereby, the Revolving Lenders agree that they shall purchase and sell participations or otherwise make or effect such payments among themselves (but through the Administrative Agent) so that payments by the Revolving Lenders of drawings under Several Letters of Credit and payments by the Borrowers of LC Disbursements and interest thereon are, except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, in each case shared by the Revolving Lenders in accordance with the respective Applicable Percentages (or other applicable shares if the Borrowers have made a Non-Pro Rata Issuance Election with respect to such Several Letters of Credit) of the Revolving Lenders from time to time in effect.
SECTION 2.07.      Funding of Borrowings . (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, Local Time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrowers by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds,

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to the account specified pursuant to Section 2.03, which shall be an account of a Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City (or, in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency, in such other location as may be designated by the Administrative Agent) and designated by the Borrowers in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentage with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility (in the case of Several Letters of Credit)or the applicable Fronting Bank (in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit).
(a)      Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with this Section 2.07 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrowers a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrowers severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrowers to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, (x) the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation (in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars) or (y) the rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount (in the case of a Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency) or (ii) in the case of the Borrowers, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.
(b)      In the event that the Borrowers have made a Non-Pro Rata Issuance Election and thereafter the Borrowers request a Revolving Loan, such Revolving Loan shall, subject to the other terms and provisions hereof, be advanced first, by those Non-NAIC Approved Banks that do not participate in the issuance, renewal, extension or amendment of one or more Several Letters of Credit as the result of such Non-Pro Rata Issuance Election until, after giving effect thereto, the Revolving Credit Exposure owing to the Lenders are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments and second, by the Lenders (including such Non-NAIC Approved Banks) pro rata in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate outstanding amount of the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender shall not exceed the Revolving Commitment of such Lender notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.07(c).
SECTION 2.08.      Interest Elections . (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower Representative may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type, in the case of Borrowings denominated in Dollars, or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The

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Borrower Representative may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.
(a)      To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower Representative were requesting a Borrowing of the Type and denominated in the currency resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower Representative.
(b)      Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i)      the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii)      the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii)      whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing; and
(iv)      if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”;
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.
(c)      Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each applicable Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.
(d)      If the Borrower Representative fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing (unless such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency, in which case such Borrowing shall be continued as a

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Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month’s duration commencing on the last day of such Interest Period). Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower Representative then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing, (ii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing denominated in Dollars shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, and (iii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be continued as a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month’s duration.
SECTION 2.09.      Termination and Reduction and Increase of Commitments . (a) Unless previously terminated (or extended pursuant to Section 2.22), the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Maturity Date. The Term Commitments shall terminate upon the making of the Term Loan on the Effective Date.
(a)      The Borrowers may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrowers shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the total Revolving Commitments.
(b)      The Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the applicable Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower Representative pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrower Representative may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower Representative (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders, in each case accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments.
(c)      The Borrower Representative at its option may, from time to time, after the Effective Date, seek to increase the total Revolving Commitments by up to an aggregate amount of $100,000,000 (resulting in maximum total Revolving Commitments of $300,000,000) upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, which notice shall specify the amount of any such increase (which shall not be less than $10,000,000 or such lesser amount to which the Administrative Agent may agree) and shall certify that no Default has occurred and is continuing. After delivery of such notice, the Parent, in its discretion, may offer the increase (which may be declined by any Lender in its sole discretion) in the total Revolving Commitments on either a ratable basis to the Lenders or on a non pro-rata basis to one or more Lenders and/or to

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other Lenders or entities that are NAIC Approved Banks and are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Agent, the Fronting Banks and the Borrower Representative; provided that no increase may be offered to any entity that is an Ineligible Institution. No increase in the total Revolving Commitments shall become effective until the existing or new Lenders extending such incremental Revolving Commitment amount and the Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a document in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent pursuant to which (i) any such existing Lender agrees to the amount of its Revolving Commitment increase, (ii) any such new Lender agrees to its Revolving Commitment and agrees to assume and accept the obligations and rights of a Lender hereunder, (iii) the Borrowers accept such incremental Revolving Commitments, (iv) the effective date of any increase in the Revolving Commitments is specified and (v) the Borrowers certify that on such date the conditions for a new Loan set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied. Upon the effectiveness of any increase in the total Revolving Commitments pursuant hereto, (i) each Lender (new or existing) shall be deemed to have accepted an assignment from the existing Lenders, and the existing Lenders shall be deemed to have made an assignment to each new or existing Lender accepting a new or increased Revolving Commitment, of an interest in each then outstanding Revolving Loan (in each case, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Assignment and Assumption) and (ii) the LC Exposure of the existing and new Lenders shall be adjusted as contemplated by Section 2.06(m) such that, after giving effect to such assignments and adjustments, all Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder is held ratably by the Lenders in proportion to their respective Revolving Commitments. Assignments pursuant to the preceding two sentences shall be made in exchange for, and substantially contemporaneously with the payment to the assigning Lenders of, the principal amount assigned. Payments received by assigning Lenders pursuant to this Section in respect of the principal amount of any Eurocurrency Loan shall, for purposes of Section 2.16 be deemed prepayments of such Loan. Any increase of the total Revolving Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.09(d) shall be subject to receipt by the Administrative Agent from the Borrowers of such supplemental opinions, resolutions, certificates and other documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request. No consent of any Lender (other than the Lenders agreeing to new or increased Revolving Commitments) shall be required for any incremental Revolving Commitment provided or Revolving Loan made pursuant to this Section 2.09(d).
SECTION 2.10.      Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt . (a) The Borrowers hereby jointly and severally unconditionally promise to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each applicable Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Revolving Maturity Date and (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each applicable Lender the unpaid principal amount of its Term Loan on the Term Loan Maturity Date.
(a)      Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(b)      The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due

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and payable from the Borrowers to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.
(c)      The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(d)      Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrowers shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).
(e)      If as of any date a determination is required or authorized to be made under the Credit Documents the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of the Lenders exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitments of the Lenders, the Borrowers shall within two (2) Business Days prepay the Loans in the amount of such excess. To the extent that, after the prepayment of all Loans an excess of the Credit Exposure over the aggregate Revolving Commitments still exists, the Borrowers shall promptly cash collateralize the Letters of Credit in the manner described in Section 2.06(j) in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.
(f)      The Administrative Agent will determine the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate LC Exposure and the Dollar Equivalent of each Loan on each Exchange Rate Date. If at any time the sum of such amounts exceeds 105% of the aggregate Revolving Commitments of the Lenders, the Borrowers shall within two (2) Business Days prepay the Revolving Loans in an amount sufficient to reduce the sum of such amounts to no greater than the amount of the aggregate Revolving Commitments of the Lenders. To the extent that, after the prepayment of all Loans an excess of the sum of such amounts over the aggregate Revolving Commitments still exists, the Borrowers shall promptly cash collateralize the Letters of Credit in the manner described in Section 2.06(j) in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.
SECTION 2.11.      Prepayment of Loans . (a) The Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part and without prepayment or penalty, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section.
(a)      The Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be

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irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09(d), then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09(d). Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the applicable Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13.
SECTION 2.12.      Fees . (a) Subject to Section 2.21(a), the Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee in Dollars, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage under the Revolving Credit Facility of the daily amount of the difference between the Revolving Commitment of such Lender and the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender during the period from and including the date hereof to but excluding the date on which such Revolving Commitment terminates. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the fifth Business Day after receipt by the Borrowers of an invoice with respect to such fees. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
(a)      Subject to Section 2.21(c), the Borrowers agree to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its credit exposure in respect of  Letters of Credit (whether in the form of participations in Fronted Letters of Credit or as a ratable issuer of Several Letters of Credit), equal to (A) in the case of Unsecured Letters of Credit, the Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurocurrency Revolving Loans on the average daily amount available to be drawn under such Unsecured Letter of Credit (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) and (B) in the case of Secured Letters of Credit, at the applicable rate per annum set forth on Schedule 1.02 under the caption “Secured Letter of Credit Fee” on the average daily amount available to be drawn under such Secured Letter of Credit, in each case, during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to each Fronting Bank a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate or rates per annum separately agreed upon between the Borrowers and such Fronting Bank on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure in respect of Fronted Letters of Credit issued by it (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as the applicable LC Issuer’s standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder . Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the fifth Business Day following receipt by the Borrowers of an invoice thereof, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall

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be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the applicable LC Issuer pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
(b)      The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.
(c)      All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the Issuing Agent or the applicable Fronting Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of facility fees and participation fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
SECTION 2.13.      Interest . (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(a)      The Loans comprising each Eurocurrency Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.
(b)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by any of the Borrowers hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.
(c)      Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan, upon the final maturity thereof and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
(d)      All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that (i) interest on Borrowings denominated in Sterling shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days, (ii) interest on Borrowings denominated in any other Foreign Currency for which it is required by applicable law or customary to compute interest on the basis of a year of 365 days or, if required by applicable law or customary, 366 days in a leap year, shall be computed on such

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basis, and (iii) interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.14.      Alternate Rate of Interest . (a) If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in any currency:
(i)      the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means (including by means of an Interpolated Rate) do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or
(ii)      the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period, which notice is accompanied by a written rationale for the determination of the Required Lenders, which will be shared with the Borrowers;
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrowers and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrowers and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in such currency shall be ineffective, (ii) such Borrowing shall be converted to or continued as on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto (A) if such Borrowing is denominated in Dollars, an ABR Borrowing or (B) if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency, as a Borrowing in respect of which the rate to apply to each Lender’s participation is an interest rate to include (1) the Applicable Rate for Eurocurrency Loans and (2) the rate notified to the Administrative Agent by such Lender as soon as practicable and in any event before interest is due to be paid in respect of the applicable Interest Period, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to such Lender of funding its participation in the applicable Borrowing from whatever source it may reasonably select; and (iii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing in such currency, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing (if such Borrowing is requested to be made in Dollars) or shall be made as a Borrowing bearing interest at the rate described under (ii)(B) above.
(b)      If, after the date hereof, any Change in Law shall make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders to honor its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any Eurocurrency Loan or any ABR Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, such Lender shall promptly give notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the Parent and the other Lenders. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Parent

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that such circumstances no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make Eurocurrency Loans or ABR Loans as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate, and the right of the Borrowers to convert any Loan to a Eurocurrency Loan or continue any Loan as a Eurocurrency Loan or an ABR Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate shall be suspended and thereafter the Borrowers may select only ABR Loans as to which the interest rate is not determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate hereunder, (ii) all ABR Loans shall cease to be determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate and (iii) if any of the Lenders may not lawfully continue to maintain a Eurocurrency Loan to the end of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, the applicable Loan shall immediately be converted to an ABR Loan as to which the interest rate is not determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for the remainder of such Interest Period.
(c)      If at any time the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances set forth in clause (a)(i) have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in clause (a)(i) have not arisen but either (w) the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate has made a public statement that the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate is insolvent (and there is no successor administrator that will continue publication of the LIBO Screen Rate), (x) the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBO Screen Rate will permanently or indefinitely cease to be published by it (and there is no successor administrator that will continue publication of the LIBO Screen Rate), (y) the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBO Screen Rate will permanently or indefinitely cease to be published or (z) the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBO Screen Rate may no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of interest to the LIBO Rate that gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for syndicated loans in the United States at such time, and shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable (but for the avoidance of doubt, such related changes shall not include a reduction of the Applicable Rate); provided that, if such alternate rate of interest as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 9.02, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date notice of such alternate rate of interest is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that such Required Lenders object to such amendment. Until an alternate rate of interest shall be determined in accordance with this clause (c) (but only to the extent the LIBO Screen Rate for the applicable currency and such Interest Period is not available or published at such time on a current basis), (x) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in such currency shall be ineffective, (y) such Borrowing shall be converted to or continued as on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto (A) if such Borrowing is denominated in Dollars, an ABR Borrowing or (B) if such Borrowing is

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denominated in a Foreign Currency, as a Borrowing in respect of which the rate to apply to each Lender’s participation is an interest rate to include (1) the Applicable Rate for Eurocurrency Loans and (2) the rate notified to the Administrative Agent by such Lender as soon as practicable and in any event before interest is due to be paid in respect of the applicable Interest Period, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to such Lender of funding its participation in the applicable Borrowing from whatever source it may reasonably select; and (z) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing in such currency, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing (if such Borrowing is requested to be made in Dollars) or shall be made as a Borrowing bearing interest at the rate described under (ii)(B) above.
SECTION 2.15.      Increased Costs . (a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i)      impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate) or any LC Issuer;
(ii)      impose on any Lender or any LC Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or
(iii)      subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (e) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, such LC Issuer or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such LC Issuer or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrowers will pay to such Lender, such LC Issuer or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such LC Issuer or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b)      If any Lender or any LC Issuer determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such LC Issuer capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such LC Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such LC Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or such LC Issuer or such Lender’s or such LC Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such LC Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such LC Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time the Borrowers will pay to such

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Lender or such LC Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such LC Issuer or such Lender’s or such LC Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c)      A certificate of a Lender or an LC Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such LC Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower Representative and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender or such LC Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d)      Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any LC Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such LC Issuer’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an LC Issuer pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or such LC Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower Representative of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such LC Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
Notwithstanding the above, a Lender will not be entitled to demand compensation for any increased cost or reduction set forth in this Section 2.15 at any time if it is not the general practice of such Lender to demand such compensation from similarly situated borrowers in similar circumstances at such time.
SECTION 2.16.      Break Funding Payments . In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (b) the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurocurrency Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (d) the assignment of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the Borrowers shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense (excluding any loss of anticipated profits or loss of margin) attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to be an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the date of such event, for Dollar deposits in the applicable currency of a

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comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurocurrency market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section and setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for such claim shall be delivered to the Borrower Representative and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.17.      Taxes . (a) Payments Free of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower under any Credit Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(a)      Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers . The Borrowers shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for, Other Taxes.
(b)      Evidence of Payments . As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, such Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(c)      Indemnification by the Borrowers . The Borrowers shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrowers by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d)      Indemnification by the Lenders . Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes

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attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Credit Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Credit Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).
(e)      Status of Lenders . (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Credit Document shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(i)      Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that any Borrower is a U.S. Person,
(A)      any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of such Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. Federal backup withholding tax;
(B)      any Foreign Lender (with respect to such Borrower) shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of such Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1)      in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Credit Document, an executed IRS Form W-8BEN-E or IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest”

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article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Credit Document, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
(2)      in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, an executed IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3)      in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of such Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) an executed IRS Form W-8BEN-E or IRS Form W-8BEN; or
(4)      to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, an executed IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 or Exhibit B-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C)      any Foreign Lender (with respect to such Borrower) shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of such Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. Federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit such Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(D)      if a payment made to a Lender under any Credit Document would be subject to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for such Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that

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such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
(ii)      Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(f)      Additional United Kingdom Withholding Tax Matters .
(i)      Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and subject to (ii) below, each Lender and each UK Borrower which makes a payment to such Lender shall cooperate in completing as soon as reasonably possible any procedural formalities necessary for such UK Borrower to obtain authorization to make such payment without withholding or deduction or subject to a reduced rate of withholding or deduction for Taxes imposed under the laws of the United Kingdom and renew such authorization where it expires or ceases to have effect.
(ii)      (A) A Lender on the day on which this Agreement closes that (x) holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and (y) wishes such scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall confirm its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence opposite its name in Schedule 2.01; and
(B) a Lender which becomes a Lender hereunder after the day on which this Agreement closes that (x) holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and (y) wishes such scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall confirm its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence to the Borrower Representative and in the relevant documentation it executes to becomes a Lender, and
(C) Upon satisfying either clause (A) or (B) above, such Lender shall have satisfied its obligation under paragraph (g)(i) above.
(iii)      If a Lender has confirmed its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with paragraph (g)(ii) above, the UK Borrower(s) shall duly complete and file HMRC form DTTP2 with HMRC within 30 days of the date of this Agreement in respect of a Lender falling within Section 2.17(g)(ii)(A) and within 30 days of the date a Lender falling under Section 2.17(g)(ii)(B) becomes a Lender under this Agreement (a “ Borrower DTTP Filing ”) with respect to such Lender, and shall promptly provide such Lender with a copy of such filing; provided that, if:
(A) each UK Borrower making a payment to such Lender has not made a Borrower DTTP Filing in respect of such Lender; or

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(B) each UK Borrower making a payment to such Lender has made a Borrower DTTP Filing in respect of such Lender but:
(1) such Borrower DTTP Filing has been rejected by HM Revenue & Customs; or
(2) HM Revenue & Customs has not given such UK Borrower authority to make payments to such Lender without a deduction for tax within 60 days of the date of such Borrower DTTP Filing;
and in each case, such UK Borrower has notified that Lender in writing of either (1) or (2) above, then such Lender and such UK Borrower shall co-operate in completing any additional procedural formalities necessary for such UK Borrower to obtain authorization as soon as reasonably possible to make that payment without withholding or deduction for Taxes imposed under the laws of the United Kingdom.
(iv)      If a Lender has not confirmed its scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with paragraph (g)(ii) above, no UK Borrower shall make a Borrower DTTP Filing or file any other form relating to the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme in respect of that Lender's Commitment(s) or its participation in any Loan unless the Lender otherwise agrees.
(v)      Each UK Borrower shall, promptly on making a Borrower DTTP Filing, deliver a copy of such Borrower DTTP Filing to the Administrative Agent for delivery to the relevant Lender.
(vi)      Each Lender shall promptly notify the Parent and Administrative Agent if it determines in its sole discretion that it ceases to be entitled to claim the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United Kingdom is a party with respect to payments made by any UK Borrower hereunder.
(vii)      A Lender on the day on which this Agreement closes which is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of (b)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender gives a Tax Confirmation by entering into this Agreement.
(viii)      A Lender which has given a Tax Confirmation shall promptly notify the Parent and Administrative Agent if there is any change in the position from that set out in the Tax Confirmation.
(ix)      A QPP Lender shall promptly notify the Parent and Administrative Agent if it becomes aware of any change in the position from that set out in the QPP Certificate.
(x)      If the UK Borrower receives a notification from H.M. Revenue & Customs that a QPP Certificate given by a Lender has no effect, the UK Borrower shall promptly provide a copy of such notification to the Parent and Administrative Agent for delivery to the relevant Lender.

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(g)      Treatment of Certain Refunds . If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(h)      Survival . Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Credit Document.
(i)      Defined Terms . For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” includes the LC Issuers and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.
(j)      For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the Effective Date, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) this Agreement as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).
SECTION 2.18.      Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs . (a) Except as otherwise provided herein with respect to the reimbursement of LC Disbursements, each of the Borrowers shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 10 South Dearborn, Floor 19, Chicago, Illinois 60603 (or, for payments denominated in a Foreign Currency, to J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, 125 London Wall, London EC2Y 5AJ), except payments to be made directly to an LC Issuer as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the

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Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder of (i) principal or interest in respect of any Loan shall be made in the currency in which such Loan is denominated or (ii) any other amount due hereunder or under another Credit Document shall be made in Dollars. Any payment required to be made by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be deemed to have been made by the time required if the Administrative Agent shall at or before such time have taken the necessary steps to make such payment in accordance with the regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or settlement system used by the Administrative Agent to make such payment.
(a)      If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.
(b)      If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Term Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations in LC Disbursements of other Lenders without recourse or warranty from the other Lenders except as contemplated by Section 9.04 in respect of assignments to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and participations in LC Disbursements; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by any of the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). Each of the Borrowers consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against any of the Borrowers rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.

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(c)      Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower Representative prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or any LC Issuer hereunder that the Borrowers will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrowers have made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the applicable LC Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrowers have not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the applicable LC Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such LC Issuer with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, (i) at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation (in the case of an amount denominated in Dollars) and (ii) the rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount (in the case of an amount denominated in a Foreign Currency).
(d)      If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06(e), 2.07(c), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or the applicable LC Issuer to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under such Sections; in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.
SECTION 2.19.      Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders . (a)     If any Lender or LC Issuer requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if any of the Borrowers is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or LC Issuer or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or LC Issuer pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender or LC Issuer, as applicable, (at the written request of such Borrower) shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans, LC Disbursements or participations in LC Disbursements (as applicable) hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or LC Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender or LC Issuer to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or LC Issuer. The Borrowers hereby agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or LC Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(a)      If any Lender or LC Issuer requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if any of the Borrowers is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or LC Issuer pursuant to Section 2.17, or if any Lender or LC Issuer becomes a Defaulting Lender, a Non-NAIC Approved Bank or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender or LC Issuer

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and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender or LC Issuer to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender or LC Issuer, if a Lender or LC Issuer accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower Representative shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned, each LC Issuer), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts), (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments and (iv) such assignee shall not be an Ineligible Institution. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
(b)      The Borrowers may, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this clause (c), request that all Several Letters of Credit that are required to be issued or that are outstanding during the period that a Non-NAIC Approved Bank (i) does not have a Limited Fronting Lender and (ii) continues to be a Revolving Lender hereunder be issued or renewed, extended or amended, as applicable, by the Revolving Lenders on a pro rata basis that excludes the Revolving Commitment of such Non-NAIC Approved Bank, provided that, if the Borrowers elect to request that any Several Letter of Credit be issued, renewed, extended or amended on an adjusted pro rata basis, (i) such issuance, renewal, extension or adjustment shall be made only to the extent that it would not cause the Revolving Credit Exposure owing to any Revolving Lender to exceed such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment and (ii) thereafter, if the Borrowers elect to request a Revolving Loan, such Revolving Loan shall be advanced as provided in Section 2.07(c).
SECTION 2.20.      Joint and Several Liability of the Borrowers.
(a)      Each of the Borrowers shall be jointly and severally liable hereunder and under each of the other Credit Documents with respect to all Loans and all other Obligations, regardless of which of the Borrowers actually receives the proceeds of the Loans or the benefit of any other extensions of credit hereunder, or the manner in which the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or the applicable LC Issuer accounts therefore in their respective books and records. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, (i) each Borrower’s obligations and liabilities with respect to proceeds of Loans which it receives or Letters of Credit issued for its account, and related fees, costs and expenses, and (ii) each Borrower’s obligations and liabilities arising as a result of the joint and several liability of Borrowers hereunder with respect to proceeds of Loans received by, or Letters of Credit issued for the account of, any of the other Borrowers, together with the related fees, costs and expenses, shall be separate and distinct obligations, both of which are primary obligations of such Borrower. The joint and several liability of each of the Borrowers shall not be impaired or released by (A) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the applicable LC Issuer, any successors or assigns thereof, or any holder of any of the

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Obligations to assert any claim or demand or to exercise or enforce any right, power or remedy against any Borrower, any Subsidiary, any other Person or otherwise; (B) any extension or renewal for any period (whether or not longer than the original period) or exchange of any of the Obligations or the release or compromise of any obligation of any nature of any Person with respect thereto; (C) the surrender, release or exchange of all or any part of any property securing payment, performance and/or observance of any of the Obligations or the compromise or extension or renewal for any period (whether or not longer than the original period) of any obligations of any nature of any Person with respect to any such property; (D) any action or inaction on the part of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the applicable LC Issuer, or any other event or condition with respect to any other Borrower, including any such action or inaction or other event or condition, which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, such Borrower, or a guarantor or surety of or for any or all of the Obligations; and (E) any other act, matter or thing (other than indefeasible payment in full or performance of the Obligations) which would or might, in the absence of this provision, operate to release, discharge or otherwise prejudicially affect the obligations of such Borrower or any other Borrower.
(b)      Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Credit Documents, to the extent the joint obligations of a Borrower shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason (including, without limitation, because of Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar U.S. or foreign statute or common law) then the Obligations of each Borrower hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount that is permissible under applicable law (whether foreign, federal or state and including, without limitation, the federal Bankruptcy Code).
(c)      To the extent that any Borrower shall make a payment under this Section 2.20 of all or any of the Obligations (other than Loans the proceeds of which were received by such Borrower) (a “ Surety Payment ”) that, taking into account all other Surety Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Borrower, exceeds the amount that such Borrower would otherwise have paid if each Borrower had paid the aggregate Obligations satisfied by such Surety Payment in the same proportion that such Borrower’s “Allocable Amount” (as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Surety Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Borrowers as determined immediately prior to the making of such Surety Payment, then, following indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations and termination of the Commitments, such Borrower shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Borrower for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Surety Payment. As of any date of determination, the “ Allocable Amount ” of any Borrower shall be equal to the maximum amount of the claim that could then be recovered from such Borrower under this Section 2.20 without rendering such claim voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar U.S. or foreign statute or common law. This Section 2.20(c) is intended only to define the relative rights of Borrowers and nothing set forth in this Section 2.20(c) is intended to or shall impair the obligations of Borrowers, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,

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including Section 2.20(a). Nothing contained in this Section 2.20(c) shall limit the liability of any Borrower to pay the Loans made directly or indirectly to that Borrower and accrued interest, fees and expenses with respect thereto for which such Borrower shall be primarily liable. The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Borrowers to which such contribution and indemnification is owing. The rights of the indemnifying Borrowers against other Borrowers under this Section 2.20(c) shall be exercisable only upon the full and indefeasible payment of the Obligations and the termination of the Commitments.
(d)      The liability of Borrowers under this Section 2.20 is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Borrower to the Administrative Agent and Lenders under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which such Borrower is a party, without any limitation as to amount.
SECTION 2.21.      Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a)      fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Revolving Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12;
(b)      the Revolving Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders, the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 9.02), provided that any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender which affects such Defaulting Lender differently than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender;
(c)      if any LC Exposure with respect to Fronted Letters of Credit exists at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:
(i)      all or any part of such LC Exposure shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages under the Revolving Credit Facility but only to the extent (x) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Commitments and (y) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied at such time; and
(ii)      if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent cash collateralize such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;
(iii)      if the Borrowers cash collateralize any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to Section 2.21(c), the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any

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fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized;
(iv)      if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to Section 2.21(c), then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.12 shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages under the Revolving Credit Facility; or
(v)      if any Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither cash collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to Section 2.21(c), then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of any LC Issuer or any other Lender hereunder, all facility fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender (solely with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment that was utilized by such LC Exposure) and letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Fronting Banks until such LC Exposure is cash collateralized and/or reallocated; and
(d)      so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Fronting Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Fronted Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Revolving Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.21(c), and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.21(c)(i) (and Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein).
(e)      If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) any Fronting Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, such Fronting Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless such Fronting Bank shall have entered into arrangements with a Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to such Fronting Bank to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.
(f)      In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and each Fronting Bank each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
SECTION 2.22.      Extension of Revolving Maturity Date.
(a)      Requests for Extension . The Parent may, on up to two (2) occasions and by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) not less than sixty (60) days prior to the then effective Revolving Maturity Date (the “ Extension Date ”), request that each

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Lender extend such Lender’s Revolving Maturity Date for an additional one year from the Revolving Maturity Date then in effect hereunder (the “ Existing Termination Date ”).
(b)      Lender Elections to Extend . Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent given not later than the date that is ten (10) Business Days after receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent of the Borrower’s request for an extension (the “ Notice Date ”) advise the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such extension (each such Lender that determines to so extend its Revolving Maturity Date, being an “ Extending Lender ” and each Lender that determines not to so extend its Revolving Maturity Date, being a “ Non-Extending Lender ”). In the event that a Lender that does not so advise the Administrative Agent on or before the Notice Date such Lender shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending Lender. The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree.
(c)      Notification by Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall notify the Parent of each Lender’s determination under this Section no later than the date fifteen (15) days prior to the Extension Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day).
(d)      Additional Revolving Commitment Lenders . If (and only if) the Required Lenders have agreed to extend the Revolving Maturity Date then in effect hereunder, the Parent shall have the right at any time prior to the date 30 days prior to the existing Revolving Maturity Date applicable to any Non-Extending Lender to replace such Non-Extending Lender with, and add as “Lenders” under this Agreement, one or more entities that are not Ineligible Institutions with the consent of the Administrative Agent and each Fronting Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or denied) (each, an “ Additional Revolving Commitment Lender ”) in accordance with the provisions contained in Section 2.09(d) , provided that each of such Additional Revolving Commitment Lenders shall have entered into an Assignment and Assumption Agreement pursuant to which such Additional Revolving Commitment Lender shall, effective as of the date of the Assignment and Assumption, accept a new or incremental Revolving Commitment which results in there being aggregate Revolving Commitments in an amount no greater than the aggregate amount of Revolving Commitments before giving effect to assignments contemplated by this Section 2.22(d).
(e)      Minimum Extension Requirement . If (and only if) the Required Lenders have agreed so to extend the Revolving Maturity Date then in effect hereunder as described in this Section 2.22 , then, effective as of such Extension Date, the Revolving Maturity Date of each Extending Lender and each Additional Revolving Commitment Lender shall be extended to the date falling one year after the Existing Termination Date (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, such date shall be the next preceding Business Day) and each Additional Revolving Commitment Lender shall thereupon become a “Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement; provided , however , that there shall be no change in the Revolving Maturity Date of any Non-Extending Lender that has not been replaced by an Additional Revolving Commitment Lender (each a “ Non-Replaced Lender ”).

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(f)      Conditions to Effectiveness of Extensions . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the extension of the Revolving Maturity Date pursuant to this Section shall not be effective with respect to any Lender unless:
(i)      no Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such extension and after giving effect thereto;
(ii)      the representations and warranties contained in Article V or any other Credit Document are true and correct on and as of the date of such extension and after giving effect thereto, as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent any such representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall have been true and correct on and as of such earlier date;
(iii)      since the date of the financial statements most recently delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (c) , no event, circumstance or development shall have occurred that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(iv)      the Parent shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated the Effective Date in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clauses (i) – (iii) above and other relevant documentation, including legal opinions, reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent; and
(v)      on the Revolving Maturity Date of each Non-Replaced Lender, the Borrowers shall prepay any Loans outstanding on such date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.16 ) to the extent necessary to repay, nonratably, the Loans of such Non-Replaced Lenders and the Revolving Commitment of such Non-Replaced Lenders shall be terminated. The Applicable Percentages under the Revolving Credit Facility of the remaining Lenders shall be revised accordingly as of such date.
(g)      Conflicting Provisions . This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.18 or 9.02 to the contrary.
ARTICLE III     

Representations and Warranties
Each of the Borrowers represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
SECTION 3.01.      Organization; Powers . Each of the Parent and its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

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SECTION 3.02.      Authorization; Enforceability . The Transactions are within the Borrowers’ corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrowers and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrowers, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
SECTION 3.03.      Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts . The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws, memorandum or articles of association or other organizational documents of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, but only to the extent that such violation or default could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.04.      Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change . (a) The Borrowers have heretofore furnished to the Lenders the consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (including consolidating statements and schedules) of the Parent as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2017, reported on without qualification by Ernst & Young LLP, independent public accountants. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP.
(a)      Since December 31, 2017, there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
SECTION 3.05.      Properties . (a) The Parent and its Subsidiaries have good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all their real and personal property material to their business, taken as a whole, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with their ability to conduct their business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.
(a)      Each of the Parent and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and, to the knowledge of the Borrowers, the use thereof by the Parent and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.06.      Litigation . There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrowers, threatened against or affecting the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (i) that could

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reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.
SECTION 3.07.      Compliance with Laws and Agreements . Each of the Parent and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with: (i) the charter, by-laws, memorandum or articles of association or other organizational documents applicable to it and (ii) all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.08.      Investment Company Status . Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.
SECTION 3.09.      Taxes . Each of the Parent and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Parent or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.10.      ERISA . No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $10,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $10,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.
SECTION 3.11.      Insurance Licenses . As of the Effective Date, (i) Schedule 3.11 attached hereto lists all of the jurisdictions in which any Significant Insurance Subsidiary holds active licenses and is authorized to transact insurance business, (ii) no such license is the subject of a proceeding for suspension or revocation, there is no sustainable basis for such suspension or revocation, and to any Borrower’s knowledge, no such suspension or revocation has been threatened by any Governmental Authority, except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) Schedule 3.11 also indicates the type or types of insurance in which each such Insurance Subsidiary is permitted to engage with respect to each license therein listed, and (iv) none of the Significant Insurance Subsidiaries transacts any insurance business, directly or indirectly, in any state other than those enumerated in Schedule 3.11.
SECTION 3.12.      Subsidiaries . As of the Effective Date, the Parent has no Subsidiaries other than those Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 3.12. Schedule 3.12 correctly sets

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forth, as of the Effective Date, (i) the percentage ownership (direct or indirect) of the Parent in the Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries and also identifies the direct owner thereof, (ii) the jurisdiction of organization of each such Subsidiary and (iii) with respect to each such Subsidiary, whether such Subsidiary is a Significant Subsidiary or Significant Insurance Subsidiary; provided that the identification of Significant Subsidiaries on Schedule 3.12 may be provided within thirty (30) days after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything in Section 9.02 to the contrary, Schedule 3.12 shall be amended to reflect such Significant Subsidiaries upon identification thereof as contemplated thereby.
SECTION 3.13.      Material Agreements . Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any agreement to which it is a party, which default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.14.      Disclosure .
(a)      Each of the Borrowers has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder taken as a whole (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrowers represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that projected financial information is as to future events and is not to be viewed as fact and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such information may differ significantly from the projected results and such differences may be material).
(b)      As of the Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Effective Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all respects.
SECTION 3.15.      Solvency . The Parent and its Subsidiaries are, on a consolidated basis, Solvent.
SECTION 3.16.      Foreign Pension Plan . Except as, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Foreign Pension Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and in compliance with the requirements of any and all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders (including all funding requirements and the respective requirements of the governing documents for each such Foreign Pension Plan) and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, (ii) all contributions required to be made with respect to a Foreign Pension Plan have been timely made, (iii) no actions or proceedings have been taken or instituted to terminate

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or wind up a Foreign Pension Plan, and (iv) neither any Borrower nor any Subsidiary has incurred any obligation in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any Foreign Pension Plan. The present value of the accrued benefit liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Foreign Pension Plan, determined as of the end of the Parent’s most recently ended fiscal year on the basis of actuarial assumptions, each of which is reasonable, did not exceed by more than $10,000,000 the current value of the assets of such Foreign Pension Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities.
SECTION 3.17.      Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions . The Borrowers have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by the Borrowers, their Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrowers, their Subsidiaries and their respective directors and officers and to the knowledge of the Borrowers its employees and agents (under the control of any Borrower or Subsidiary), are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrowers, any Subsidiary or to the knowledge of the Borrowers or such Subsidiary any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrowers, any agent (under the control of any Borrower or Subsidiary) of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by the Credit Agreement will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.
SECTION 3.18.      EEA Financial Institutions . No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.
SECTION 3.19.      Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions . None of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) and neither the execution, delivery nor performance of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, including the making of any Loan and the issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
ARTICLE IV     

Conditions
SECTION 4.01.      Effective Date . The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of any Lender or LC Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a)      The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

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(b)      The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, US counsel for the Borrowers, (ii) Conyers Dill & Pearman, Bermuda counsel for the Borrowers, (iii) Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP, UK counsel for the Borrowers and (iv) in house counsel to Argo US, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and covering such other matters relating to the Borrowers, this Agreement or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Borrowers hereby request such counsel to deliver such opinion.
(c)      The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Borrowers, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Borrowers, this Agreement or the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(d)      The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate relating to the solvency of each of the Borrowers in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e)      The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Parent, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02, stating (i) the Rating of Argo US and (ii) the Rating of each Insurance Subsidiary of Argo US.
(f)      All obligations of the Borrowers under the Existing Agreement (other than any contingent indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of outstanding letters of credit thereunder which are continued under this Agreement) shall have been or shall substantially contemporaneously be repaid in full and all commitments to extend credit pursuant to such agreement shall be terminated.
(g)      The Lenders shall have received audited (without qualification) consolidated financial statements of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2017.
(h)      The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out of pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrowers hereunder.
(i)      All governmental and third party approvals necessary or, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, advisable in connection with the financing contemplated by this Agreement and the continuing operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect.
(j)      (i) The Administrative Agent shall have received, at least five days prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information regarding the Borrowers requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations,

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including the Patriot Act, to the extent requested in writing to the Borrowers at least 10 days prior to the Effective Date and (ii) to the extent any Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least five days prior to the Effective Date, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to such Borrower at least 10 days prior to the Effective Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the condition set forth in this clause (j)(ii) shall be deemed to be satisfied).
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower Representative and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of any Lender or LC Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior to 5:00 p.m., Chicago time, on November 30, 2018 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).
SECTION 4.02.      Each Credit Event . The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of any Lender or LC Issuer to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a)      The representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation or warranty which is already qualified as to materiality or by reference to Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation or warranty which is already qualified as to materiality or by reference to Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date).
(b)      At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(c)      If a Secured Letter of Credit is being requested, (i) the Borrowers shall have executed a Security Agreement and Control Agreement and the Administrative Agent shall have received such resolutions, certificates and opinions with respect thereto as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (ii) the Borrowers shall have collateralized such Letter of Credit as set forth in, and to the extent required by, Section 2.06(l).
Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.

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ARTICLE V     

Affirmative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated (or, in the case of any Letter of Credit extending past the Revolving Maturity Date, been cash collateralized in accordance with Section 2.06(j)) and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each of the Borrowers covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 5.01.      Financial Statements; Ratings Change and Other Information . The Borrowers will furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender:
(a)      within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent, audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year for the Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements will set forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year as available, all reported on by Ernst & Young LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b)      with respect to Argonaut Insurance Company, Colony Insurance Company, Rockwood Casualty Insurance Company, Argo Re, Ltd and other Significant Insurance Subsidiaries created subsequent to the Effective Date, as soon as available, and in any event (i) within 15 days after the date required to be filed, a copy of each such entity’s statutory Annual Statement for such year ended December 31, as filed with the insurance department (or other equivalent insurance regulatory authority) of the state or other jurisdiction of domicile of such entity, and (ii) within 15 days after the date required to be filed, a copy of each such entity’s audited or unaudited, as the case may be, financial statements for such year ended December 31, as filed with the insurance department (or other equivalent insurance regulatory authority) of the state or other jurisdiction of domicile of such entity. The financial statements referred to in this Section 5.01(b)(ii) shall fairly present in all material respects the statutory financial position of each such entity as of the dates therein specified and the statutory results of operations and cash flow of each such entity for the periods therein specified, and shall be prepared in conformity with SAP (or an equivalent standard in the applicable jurisdiction). The financial statements referred to in sub-clause (ii) of this Section 5.01(b) shall, if required, be accompanied by an audit report thereon of Ernst & Young LLP or such other firm of independent auditors of recognized national standing selected by the Parent that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to the effect that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each such entity as of the end of the fiscal year being reported on in conformity with SAP and that the examination of such auditors in connection with such financial statements has been conducted in accordance with generally accepted

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auditing standards and included such tests of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures as said auditors deemed necessary in the circumstances.
(c)      within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2018), unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year for the Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements will set forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year as available, all certified by a Financial Officer of either the Parent or the Borrower Representative as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
(d)      concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (c) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of either the Parent or the Borrower Representative (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Sections 6.09 and 6.10, (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate and (iv) solely with respect to certificates delivered with Section 5.01(a) deliveries, updated versions of Schedules 3.11 and 3.12 providing current lists of the information required thereby;
(e)      (i) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all 10-K and 10-Q reports (or successor forms thereof) and other material reports and other materials filed by any Borrower or a Subsidiary with the SEC or with any national securities exchange, as the case may be, in any event other than routine reports which are required to be provided to any of the above-listed entities concerning the management of employee benefit plans, including, without limitation, stock purchases or the exercise of stock options made under any such employee benefit plan and (ii) upon request by any Lender, copies of any 8-K reports (or any successor form thereof) or proxy statements filed by any Borrower or a Subsidiary with the SEC or with any national securities exchange;
(f)      promptly after S&P or any other nationally recognized rating agency shall have announced a change in Rating, written notice of such rating change;
(g)      promptly after A.M. Best, S&P or any other nationally recognized rating agency shall have announced a change in its financial strength rating of an Insurance Subsidiary or any Affiliate thereof, or shall have first assigned a rating thereto, written notice of such changed or initial rating;
(h)      promptly after the creation of any Significant Subsidiary or of any Person becoming a Significant Subsidiary, notice of such creation or occurrence; and

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(i)      promptly following any request therefor, (x) such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Parent or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request, including any actuarial reports prepared regarding any Insurance Subsidiary, provided, that the delivery of any actuarial reports shall be subject to the consent of the applicable independent actuarial consulting firm (if then required) and (y) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Information required to be delivered pursuant to the foregoing Section 5.01(a), (c) and (e) shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Borrowers deliver copies of such information to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or on the date on which the Borrowers provide notice (including notice by electronic transmission) to the Administrative Agent that such information has been posted on the SEC website on the Internet at sec.gov/edgar/searches.htm or at another website identified in such notice and accessible by the Lenders without charge.
SECTION 5.02.      Notices of Material Events . The Borrowers will furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender as soon as possible but in any event within five (5) Business Days after any officer of a Borrower becomes aware thereof, written notice of the following:
(a)      the occurrence of any Default;
(b)      the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting any Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c)      the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $15,000,000;
(d)      the receipt by the Parent or any Subsidiary of any notice from any Governmental Authority, trustee or actuary in relation to any non-compliance with any laws, regulations and rules applicable to any Foreign Pension Plan, including funding requirements and the respective requirements of the governing documents for such Foreign Pension Plan, which could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount which, either alone or with any other such events which have occurred, exceeds $15,000,000;
(e)      (i) the receipt by any Borrower or any Insurance Subsidiary of any notice from any Governmental Authority of the expiration without renewal, revocation or suspension of, or the institution of any proceedings to revoke or suspend, any license now or hereafter held by any Insurance Subsidiary which is required to conduct insurance business in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, other than such expiration, revocation or suspension which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the receipt of any notice from any Governmental Authority of the institution of any disciplinary

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proceedings against or in respect of any Insurance Subsidiary, or the issuance of any order, the taking of any action or any request for an extraordinary audit for cause by any Governmental Authority which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) any judicial or administrative order limiting or controlling the insurance business of any Insurance Subsidiary (and not the insurance industry generally) which has been issued or adopted and which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(f)      any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to any Lender in connection with this Agreement that would result in a material change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification; and
(g)      any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of either the Parent or the Borrower Representative setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
SECTION 5.03.      Existence; Conduct of Business . The Borrowers will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect (i) its legal existence and (ii) the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises (including without limitation, certificates of authority and other required insurance licenses) material to the conduct of the business of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except, in the case of clause (ii), where failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, Division, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.
SECTION 5.04.      Payment of Obligations . The Borrowers will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) such Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.05.      Maintenance of Properties; Insurance . The Borrowers will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of the business of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.

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SECTION 5.06.      Books and Records; Inspection Rights . The Borrowers will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrowers will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.
SECTION 5.07.      Compliance with Laws . The Borrowers will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrowers will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by the Borrowers, their Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents under their control with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.
SECTION 5.08.      Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit . The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit will be used only for general corporate purposes, including working capital and acquisitions permitted hereby (and, for the avoidance of doubt, repayment in full of the obligations under the Existing Agreement). No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Letter of Credit hereunder shall be issued to support the capital requirements at Lloyd’s of London, otherwise known as “Funds at Lloyd’s”. The Borrowers will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrowers shall not use, and shall procure that their Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (A) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (B) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (C) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
ARTICLE VI     

Negative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated (or, in the case of any Letter of Credit extending past the Revolving Maturity Date, been cash collateralized in accordance with Section 2.06(j)) and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each of the Borrowers covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 6.01.      Indebtedness . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

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(a)      Indebtedness created hereunder;
(b)      Indebtedness and commitments to provide Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.01 (and any guaranties by the Borrowers thereof) and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(c)      Indebtedness of any Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to any Borrower or any other Subsidiary ;
(d)      Guarantees, including Net Worth Maintenance agreements or similar capital support or credit enhancement agreements, by the Parent or any Subsidiary of the obligations of the Parent or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Parent; provided , however , that (i) this clause (d) shall not permit any Guarantee by a Subsidiary which is not a Borrower of the obligations of a Borrower unless such Subsidiary has also guaranteed the Obligations pursuant to a guarantee in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), (ii) no Subsidiary other than a Borrower shall Guarantee the Indebtedness of any Special Purpose Entity and (iii) any Guarantee by a Borrower of the Indebtedness of a Special Purpose Entity shall rank pari passu with, or be subordinated to, the Obligations;
(e)      Indebtedness in respect of Trust Preferred Securities or other instruments of the same or a similar character issued by a trust or other special purpose entity formed by a Borrower as to which no Subsidiary (other than a Borrower, such trust or other special purpose entity) has any obligation, together with all guaranty obligations owing by a Borrower in respect thereof and constituting Subordinated Indebtedness ;
(f)      Indebtedness assumed in connection with any Acquisition, provided that such Indebtedness is not incurred in contemplation of such Acquisition and no other Subsidiary (other than the Subsidiary being acquired, if applicable) has any liability or obligations in respect of such Indebtedness;
(g)      Indebtedness in respect of (i) collateralized letters of credit in the ordinary course of business of insurance or reinsurance operations or (ii) letters of credit which are to support the capital requirements applicable to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary at Lloyd’s of London;
(h)      Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit in the ordinary course of business as long as with respect to any such letter of credit at the time of issuance of any such letter of credit no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from such issuance;
(i)      Indebtedness incurred by the Borrowers and Special Purpose Entities in addition to the foregoing to the extent that after giving effect thereto the Borrowers are in compliance with Section 6.09; and
(j)      Indebtedness incurred by the Subsidiaries of the Borrowers (which Subsidiaries are not themselves Borrowers), provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause shall not at any time exceed $100,000,000.

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For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.01, the Borrowers will be entitled to divide an item of Indebtedness that meets the criteria of one of the categories of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (i) above between such applicable clause and any other clause of this Section 6.01 the criteria of which such item of Indebtedness also meets.
SECTION 6.02.      Liens . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:
(a)      Permitted Encumbrances;
(b)      Liens which (x) do not secure Indebtedness and (y) are incurred in the ordinary course of business, including Liens granted in connection with any Swap Agreement or investments, trades, facilities or other arrangements with any counterparty, securities or other broker/dealer or clearing exchange; provided that the aggregate amount of all obligations secured pursuant to this clause (b) shall at no time exceed $150,000,000; and
(c)      Liens on cash or debt securities and other investments pursuant to Section 6.04(a) securing (i) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(g) or (ii) obligations under or in respect of any Primary Policy, Reinsurance Agreement, Industry Loss Warranty and/or collateralized trusts, withheld balances or other collateral or security arrangements in the ordinary course of reinsurance or insurance business.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.02, the Borrowers will be entitled to divide an item of Liens that meets the criteria of one of the categories of Liens described in clauses (a) and (b) above between or among such applicable clause and any other clause of this Section 6.02 the criteria of which such item of Liens also meets.
SECTION 6.03.      Fundamental Changes . (a) The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Person may merge into or consolidate with a Borrower in a transaction in which such Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Subsidiary (other than a Borrower) may merge into or consolidate with any Person in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Borrower or a Subsidiary, (iii) a Person may be merged into a Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, (iv) any Subsidiary that is an LLC may consummate a Division as the Dividing Person if, immediately upon the consummation of the Division, the assets of the applicable Dividing Person are held by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries at such time, or, with respect to assets not so held by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, such Division, in the aggregate would otherwise result in an Asset Disposition permitted by Section 6.03(b) and (v) any Subsidiary (other than a Borrower) may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrowers determine in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrowers and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided that any

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such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 6.04.
(a)      The Borrowers will not, nor will they permit any Subsidiary to, make any Asset Disposition except for (i) Asset Dispositions expressly permitted by Sections 6.06 or 6.07 and (ii) other Asset Dispositions of property that, together with all other property of the Borrowers and the Subsidiaries previously leased, sold or disposed of in Asset Dispositions made pursuant to this Section 6.03(b) during the twelve-month period ending with the month in which any such lease, sale or other disposition occurs, do not constitute a Substantial Portion of the property of the Parent and its Subsidiaries; provided that under no circumstances shall the Equity Interests in a Borrower be included in a permitted Asset Disposition.
(b)      The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Parent and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses complementary, reasonably related or incidental thereto.
SECTION 6.04.      Investments and Acquisitions . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with, or as a Division Successor pursuant to the Division of, any Person that was not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary prior to such merger or Division) any capital stock or other equity securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:
(a)      investments complying with the terms of the Argo Investment Policy;
(b)      subject to the provisions of this Section 6.04 and, as applicable, the requirements contained in the definition of Permitted Acquisition, the Parent and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries may from time to time (i) effect Permitted Acquisitions for aggregate consideration (including Equity Interests and the assumption of Indebtedness) such that the Borrowers remain in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Sections 6.09 and 6.10 and (ii) make investments in joint ventures; provided that (A) no Default is existing either at the time of the consummation of such proposed investment and immediately after giving effect thereto; provided that with respect to a Permitted Acquisition whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing (including the assumption or incurrence of Indebtedness in connection therewith), the determination of whether this condition has been satisfied may be made, at the election of the Borrowers, at the time of the execution of the definitive agreement with respect to such Permitted Acquisition; provided further that no Default under Article VII(a) or (b) shall exist on the date of consummation of such Permitted Acquisition; (B) with respect to any such proposed investment for aggregate consideration (including Equity Interests and the assumption of Indebtedness) exceeding $85,000,000, (1) the Rating shall be at least BBB- both immediately before the consummation of such proposed investment and immediately after giving effect thereto (and after giving effect to any adjustment of the Rating associated with the consummation of such proposed investment) and (2) the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice of any such proposed investment and information materials related thereto in form and substance

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reasonably satisfactory to it from the Borrower Representative not less than 5 days prior to the consummation of such investment (or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) and (C) the aggregate amount invested in joint ventures pursuant to this Section 6.04(b) (valued at initial cost less dividends and capital distributions) shall not exceed $85,000,000;
(c)      investments of any Person in existence at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition; provided that such investment was not made in connection with or in anticipation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary; and
(d)      investments by the Parent or any Subsidiary in any Subsidiary.
SECTION 6.05.      Swap Agreements . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) non-speculative Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which a Borrower or any Subsidiary has (or reasonably expects to have) actual exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), (b) non-speculative Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of a Borrower or any Subsidiary, (c) Swap Agreements entered into in connection with any Restricted Payments permitted to be made under Section 6.06(a)(ii) and (d) Swap Agreements entered into in accordance with the terms of the Argo Investment Policy.
SECTION 6.06.      Restricted Payments . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, declare, pay or make, or agree to declare, pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:
(a)      (i) the Parent may declare and pay publicly announced and regularly scheduled dividends on its issued and outstanding common stock that is traded publicly on a national securities exchange, and (ii) the Parent or any Subsidiary may make stock repurchases and declare and make other Restricted Payments, in each case of or relating to the Equity Interests of the Parent, after the Effective Date; provided , however that no Restricted Payment shall be permitted to be declared, and no Restricted Payment (other than dividends declared in compliance herewith) shall be permitted to be paid, under this clause (a) if any Default is existing either at the time of the proposed Restricted Payment or immediately after giving effect thereto;
(b)      Parent may pay dividends payable solely in its common stock;
(c)      (i) any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends to its equity holder, (ii) any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends pro rata to its equity holders and (iii) any Subsidiary may declare and pay or make other Restricted Payments to any of the Borrowers or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; provided , however , that Argo US shall not make any Restricted Payment pursuant to this clause (c) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or if a Default would result therefrom; and

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(d)      the Parent or any Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments in respect of Trust Preferred Securities or other instruments described in Section 6.01(e) so long as no Default is existing either at the time of the proposed Restricted Payment or immediately thereafter.
SECTION 6.07.      Transactions with Affiliates . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to such Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Parent and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.06 and (d) as permitted by Section 6.01(d) or Section 6.04.
SECTION 6.08.      Restrictive Agreements . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets to secure the obligations of the Borrowers hereunder or under any guaranty thereof, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrowers or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrowers or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law, regulation or by this Agreement, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.08 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition) or to restrictions and conditions similar to those set forth in the Trust Preferred Securities upon the ability of special purpose trust Subsidiaries and other entities to pay dividends or make distributions related to Indebtedness of the same or similar character as the Trust Preferred Securities, (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary or assets pending such sale, provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or assets to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in joint venture agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that restrict pledges or transfers of ownership interests in such Persons, (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness and (vi) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.
SECTION 6.09.      Maximum Leverage Ratio . The Borrowers will not permit the Leverage Ratio to exceed .35 to 1.00 at any time.
SECTION 6.10.      Tangible Net Worth . The Parent will not permit at any time its Tangible Net Worth to be less than the sum of (i) $1,160,000,000 plus (ii) 50% of the positive Net Income of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for each fiscal quarter ending after June 30, 2018 plus (iii) 50% of the net proceeds received by the Parent and its Subsidiaries from the issuance and sale

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of Equity Interests of the Parent or any Subsidiary (other than the issuance to the Parent or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and the issuance in connection with any director or employee stock plan or other director or employee compensation arrangements), including any conversion of debt securities of the Parent or any Subsidiary into Equity Interests after June 30, 2018.
SECTION 6.11.      Sale and Leaseback Transactions . Except for Sale and Leaseback Transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business with respect to real property owned by the Borrowers on the Effective Date or acquired thereafter pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or with respect to any personal property, the Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into or suffer to exist any Sale and Leaseback Transaction.
SECTION 6.12.      Rating . The Borrowers will cause all Significant Insurance Subsidiaries of Argo US to at all times maintain an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of at least B++.
ARTICLE VII     

Events of Default
If any of the following events (“ Events of Default ”) shall occur:
(a)      any of the Borrowers shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement or any cash collateral amount due pursuant to Section 2.06(j) when and as the same shall become due and payable (including under Section 2.20 hereof), whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;
(b)      any of the Borrowers shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days;
(c)      any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect when made or deemed made;
(d)      any of the Borrowers shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Sections 5.02, 5.03 (with respect to such Borrower’s existence), 5.08 or in Article VI;
(e)      any of the Borrowers shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof

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from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower Representative (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);
(f)      any of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness (other than the Obligations), when and as the same shall become due and payable (giving effect to any applicable cure period relating thereto);
(g)      any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness or any Trust Preferred Security Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or Trust Preferred Security Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness or Trust Preferred Security Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;
(h)      an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, winding-up, administration, reorganization or other relief in respect of any of the Borrowers or any Significant Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, administration, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar official for any of the Borrowers or any Significant Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i)      any of the Borrowers or any Significant Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, winding-up, administration, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator, administrator or similar official for any of the Borrowers or any Significant Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(j)      any Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;
(k)      one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $30,000,000 shall be rendered against any Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 45 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a

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judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of any Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;
(l)      an ERISA Event or circumstance in respect of any Foreign Pension Plan shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events and such circumstances that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and continues unremedied for five (5) Business Days;
(m)      a Change in Control shall occur;
(n)      obligations owing in connection with the Trust Preferred Securities or any other Subordinated Indebtedness shall at any time and for any reason cease to be fully subordinated to the Obligations outstanding in connection with the Credit Documents;
(o)      any governmental authority revokes or fails to renew any material license, permit or franchise of any Borrower or any Significant Insurance Subsidiary, or any Borrower or any Significant Insurance Subsidiary for any reason loses any material license, permit or franchise, or any Borrower or any Significant Insurance Subsidiary suffers the imposition of any restraining order, escrow, suspension or impound of funds in connection with any proceeding (judicial or administrative) with respect to any material license, permit or franchise, which could reasonably be expected to result in losses or liability of the Borrowers or any of the Significant Insurance Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $15,000,000 and such event shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to any of the Borrowers described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower Representative, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers; and in case of any event with respect to any of the Borrowers described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers.
ARTICLE VIII     

The Administrative Agent

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Each of the Lenders and each of the LC Issuers hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrowers or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower Representative or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrowers),

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independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent, including JP Morgan Europe Ltd. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders, the LC Issuers and the Borrowers. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrowers, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the LC Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and such successor. After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.
If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrowers, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Removal Effective Date ”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and letters of credit and not investments in a business enterprise or securities. Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a

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Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrowers and their Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder and in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.
The Administrative Agent shall be permitted from time to time to designate one of its Affiliates to perform the duties to be performed by the Administrative Agent hereunder with respect to Loans and Borrowings denominated in Foreign Currencies. The provisions of this Article VIII shall apply to any such Affiliate mutatis mutandis .
The Lenders identified on the front page of this Agreement as Co-Syndication Agents or Co-Documentation Agents shall not have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of such Lenders shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgments with respect to such Lenders as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in this Article VIII.
ARTICLE IX     

Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01.      Notices . (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy (if a telecopy number is provided below), as follows:
(i)      if to any Borrower, to it c/o Argo Group US, Inc., 175 East Houston Street, Suite 1300, San Antonio, Texas 78205, Attention of Jay Bullock, (email: jay.bullock@argolimited.com); with a copy to Lynn Geurin, (email: lgeurin@argogroupus.com) and Craig Comeaux, (email: ccomeaux@argogroupus.com);
(ii)      if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 S. Dearborn, 9th Floor, Suite IL1-0364, Chicago, IL 60603, Attention of Danielle Babine (Telecopy No. (312) 325-3190);
(iii)      if to the Administrative Agent for Eurocurrency Loans in Foreign Currencies, to J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, 125 London Wall, London EC1W 2JD, Attention of Ching Loh/The Manager, Telecopy No. +44(0) 207 777 2360);

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(iv)      if to the Issuing Agent, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 S. Dearborn, Floor L2S, Suite IL1-0480, Chicago, IL 60603, Attention of Muoy Lim (Telecopy No. (888) 303-9732); and
(v)      if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through Electronic Systems, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).
(b)      Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Electronic Systems or other electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower Representative may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(c)      Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.
(d)      Electronic Systems .
(i)      Each Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make Communications (as defined below) available to the LC Issuers and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar Electronic System.

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(ii)      Any Electronic System used by the Administrative Agent is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrowers, any Lender, any LC Issuer or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including, without limitation, direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Communications through an Electronic System. “Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Borrower pursuant to any Credit Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any LC Issuer by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Electronic System.
SECTION 9.02.      Waivers; Amendments . (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuers and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrowers therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any LC Issuer may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
(a)      Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the Required Lenders or by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change any portion of this Agreement in a manner that would alter the pro rata nature of payments, loans and Commitment reductions under this Agreement, without the

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written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definitions of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender, (vi) release any Borrower from any of its joint and several liabilities in respect of the Obligations without the written consent of each Lender or (vii) change any provision of Sections 2.06(d), 2.06(j), 2.10(g) or 2.10(h) without the consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or any LC Issuer hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or any LC Issuer, as the case may be.
(b)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, Schedule 3.11 hereto shall be deemed amended without the consent of any other party solely to reflect revisions or supplements of the type described in the parenthetical in the first sentence of Section 3.11 upon the delivery by the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent of a revised Schedule 3.11 reflecting such revisions and supplements.
(c)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or amendment and restatement of this Agreement which is in all other respects approved by the Lenders in accordance with this Section 9.02 shall require the consent or approval of any Lender (i) which immediately after giving effect to such amendment or amendment and restatement, shall have no Commitment or other obligation to maintain or extend credit under this Agreement (as so amended or amended and restated), including, without limitation, any obligation in respect of any drawing under or participation in any Letter of Credit and (ii) which, substantially contemporaneously with the effectiveness of such amendment or amendment and restatement, is paid in full all amounts owing to it hereunder (including, without limitation principal, interest and fees, but excluding unmatured contingent obligations). From and after the effectiveness of any such amendment or amendment and restatement, any such Lender shall be deemed to no longer be a “Lender” hereunder or a party hereto ; provided , that any such Lender shall retain the benefit of indemnification and other provisions hereof which, by the terms hereof would survive a termination of this Agreement.
(d)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the execution and delivery of all documentation required by Section 2.09(e) to be delivered in connection with an increase to the aggregate Revolving Commitments, the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and the new or existing Lenders whose Revolving Commitments have been affected may and shall enter into an amendment hereof (which shall be binding on all parties hereto and the new Lenders) solely for the purpose of reflecting any new Lenders and their new Revolving Commitments and any increase in the Revolving Commitment of any existing Lender.
(e)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers may amend any Credit Document to correct administrative or technical errors or omissions, or to effect administrative changes that are not adverse to any Lender and any such amendment shall become effective without any further consent of any other party to such Credit Document.
SECTION 9.03.      Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver . (a) The Borrowers shall pay (i) all reasonable, documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative

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Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one firm of legal counsel for the Administrative Agent plus any required local counsel, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) without duplication of amounts otherwise payable hereunder, all reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any LC Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of (A) (1) one primary counsel and, as deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent, one additional local counsel and/or regulatory counsel in each applicable jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and (2) one primary counsel and, as deemed appropriate by the Lenders, one additional local and/or regulatory counsel for all the Lenders in each applicable jurisdiction (as well as additional counsel for the Lenders in light of actual or potential conflicts of interest), and (B) a financial advisor for the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuers and the Lenders, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(a)      The Borrowers shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each LC Issuer and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any LC Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrowers or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrowers or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Borrower or any of the Borrowers’ directors, shareholders or creditors, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.
(b)      To the extent that the Borrowers fail to pay any amount required to be paid by them to the Administrative Agent or any LC Issuer under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent or such LC Issuer, as the case may

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be, such Lender’s Revolving Commitment Exposure Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or such LC Issuer in its capacity as such.
(c)      To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrowers shall not assert, and hereby waive, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this clause (d) shall relieve any Borrower of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee against special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.
(d)      All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten days after written demand therefor.
SECTION 9.04.      Successors and Assigns . (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any LC Issuer that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrowers may not assign or otherwise transfer any of their respective rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrowers without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any LC Issuer that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(a)      (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (other than an Ineligible Institution) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:
(i)      the Parent; provided that after the passage of ten (10) Business Days from receipt of written notice to the Parent from the Administrative Agent of a proposed assignment without the Parent giving the Administrative Agent written notice of the Parent’s objection to such assignment, the Parent shall be deemed to have consented to such assignment; provided further that no consent of the Parent shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;

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(ii)      the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of any Commitment to an assignee that is a Lender with a Commitment immediately prior to giving effect to such assignment;
(iii)      the Issuing Agent; and
(iv)      each Fronting Bank.
(v)      Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(vi)      except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless the Parent and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Parent shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(vii)      each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;
(viii)      the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and
(ix)      the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrowers and their affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.
For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the term “ Approved Fund ” and “ Ineligible Institution ” have the following meanings:
“ Approved Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

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“ Ineligible Institution ” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender, (c) any Borrower or any of their Affiliates, (d) a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof (provided that such holding company, investment vehicle or trust shall not constitute an Ineligible Institution if it (x) has not been established for the primary purpose of acquiring any Loans or Commitments, (y) is managed by a professional advisor, who is not such natural person or a relative thereof, having significant experience in the business of making or purchasing commercial loans, and (z) has assets greater than $25,000,000 and a significant part of its activities consist of making or purchasing commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business) or (e) solely with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, any Person which is not an NAIC Approved Bank.
(x)      Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03); provided, however, that no Lender may assign any obligation under a Several Letter of Credit unless such Several Letter of Credit is either amended or returned by the beneficiary and reissued by the Issuing Agent, removing or amending, as the case may be, the assigning Lender’s percentage obligations and replacing or amending the same with the percentage obligations of the assignee. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.
(xi)      The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of (and stated interest on) the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuers and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers, any LC Issuer and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(xii)      Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to a Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are

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participants), the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06(e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
(b)      Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or any LC Issuer, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “ Participant ”) other than an Ineligible Institution in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuers and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. The Borrowers agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under 2.17(f) and (g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender and the information and documentation required under 2.17(g) will be delivered to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at any Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with such Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.19(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(c) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Credit Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall

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have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments or its other obligations under any Credit Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(c)      Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
SECTION 9.05.      Survival . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrowers herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, LC Issuer or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding (unless, in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit, such Fronted Letters of Credit have been cash collateralized or backstopped in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Fronting Banks and the Administrative Agent) and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
SECTION 9.06.      Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness . (a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of

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each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
(a)      Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
SECTION 9.07.      Severability . Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.08.      Right of Setoff . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any of the Borrowers against any of and all the obligations of such Person now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
SECTION 9.09.      Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process . (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
(a)      Each of the Borrowers hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan, and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the

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extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrowers or their respective properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(b)      Each of the Borrowers hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(c)      Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 9.10.      WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 9.11.      Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.12.      Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuers and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the NAIC), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to

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(i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to any Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrowers or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrowers. For the purposes of this Section, “ Information ” means all information received from the Borrowers relating to any Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrowers and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARENT AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWERS OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWERS AND THEIR AFFILIATES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES) AND ITS SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWERS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW.
SECTION 9.13.      Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “ Charges ”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “ Maximum Rate ”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all

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Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
SECTION 9.14.      USA PATRIOT Act . Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Act ”) hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Person, which information includes the names and addresses of the Borrowers and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrowers in accordance with the Act.
SECTION 9.15.      Conversion of Currencies . (a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.
(a)      The obligations of each Borrower in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “ Applicable Creditor ”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “ Judgment Currency ”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “ Agreement Currency ”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Borrowers agree, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss. The obligations of the Borrowers contained in this Section 9.15 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.
SECTION 9.16.      Appointment and Authorization of Borrower Representative.
(a)      Each Borrower hereby designates, appoints, authorizes and empowers Argo US as its agent to act as specified in the capacity of Borrower Representative under this Agreement and each of the other Credit Documents and Argo US hereby acknowledges such designation, authorization and empowerment, and accepts such appointment. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Borrower Representative to take such action on its behalf under the respective provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and any other instruments, documents and agreements referred to herein or therein, and to exercise such powers and to perform such duties hereunder and thereunder as are specifically delegated to or required of the Borrower Representative by the respective terms and provisions hereof and thereof, and such other powers

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as are reasonably incidental thereto, including, without limitation, to take the following actions for and on such Borrower’s behalf:
(i)      to submit on behalf of each Borrower Borrowing Requests, and notices of conversion or continuation of Loans to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, each such notice to be submitted by the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent as soon as practicable after its receipt of a request to do so from a Borrower; and
(ii)      to submit on behalf of each Borrower requests for the issuance of Letters of Credit in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, each such request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit to be submitted by the Borrower Representative as soon as practicable after its receipt of a request to do so from any Borrower.
(b)      The Borrower Representative is further authorized and directed by each of the Borrowers to take all such actions on behalf of such Borrower necessary to exercise the specific powers granted in clauses (i) and (ii) above and to perform such other duties hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, and deliver such documents as delegated to or required of the Borrower Representative by the terms hereof or thereof. The Administrative Agent and each Lender may regard any notice or other communication pursuant to any Credit Documents from the Borrower Representative as a notice or communication from all Borrowers, and may give any notice or communication required or permitted to be given to any Borrower or Borrowers hereunder to the Borrower Representative on behalf of such Borrower or Borrowers. Each Borrower agrees that each notice, election, representation and warranty, covenant, agreement and undertaking made on its behalf by the Borrower Representative shall be deemed for all purposes to have been made by such Borrower and shall be binding upon and enforceable against such Borrower to the same extent as if the same had been made directly by such Borrower.
(c)      The Borrower Representative may perform any of its duties hereunder or under any of the other Credit Documents by or through its agents or employees.
(d)      Each Borrower (other than Argo US) hereby irrevocably appoints Argo US as its agent to receive on behalf of itself and its property service of copies of the summons and complaint and any other process which may be served in any such action or proceeding. Such service may be made by mailing or delivering a copy of such process to such Borrower in care of Argo US at its address set forth in Section 9.01(a) hereto. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs Argo US to accept such service on its behalf.
SECTION 9.17.      No Fiduciary Duty . The Administrative Agent, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “Lenders”) may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Parent, its stockholders and/or its Affiliates. The Borrowers agrees that nothing in the Credit Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between any Lender, on the one hand, and any Borrower, its stockholders or its Affiliates, on the other. The Borrowers acknowledge and agree that (i) the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents (including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder) are arm’s-length commercial

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transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and the Borrowers, on the other, and (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading thereto, (x) no Lender has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrowers, its stockholders or its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (or the exercise of rights or remedies with respect thereto) or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Lender has advised, is currently advising or will advise the Borrowers, their respective stockholders or Affiliates on other matters) or any other obligation to the Borrowers except the obligations expressly set forth in the Credit Documents and (y) each Lender is acting solely as principal and not as the agent or fiduciary of the Borrowers, their management, stockholders, creditors or any other Person. The Borrowers acknowledge and agree that it has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate and that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. The Borrowers agree that it will not claim that any Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty, to the Borrowers in connection with such transactions or the process leading thereto.
SECTION 9.18.      Termination of Existing Agreement . The Lenders party to this Agreement, in their capacities as “Lenders” under the Credit Agreement dated as of March 3, 2017 among the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent (as amended, the “ Existing Agreement ”), constituting the Required Lenders (as such term is defined in the Existing Agreement) thereunder, hereby waive (a) the notice required pursuant to Section 2.11(b) thereof of the prepayment of obligations thereunder contemplated by Section 4.01(f) hereof and (b) the notice required pursuant to Section 2.09(c) thereof to terminate the Commitments (as such term is defined in the Existing Agreement) thereunder and agree with Borrower that upon effectiveness of this Agreement, the Existing Agreement, the other Credit Documents (as such term is defined in the Existing Agreement), the Commitments (as such term is defined in the Existing Agreement) and the Obligations (as such term is defined in the Existing Agreement) (other than those that expressly survive termination) will be terminated without any further act of any Person.
SECTION 9.19.      Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Credit Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Credit Document may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a)      the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and
(b)      the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i)      a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii)      a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other

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instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Credit Document; or
(iii)      the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.
SECTION 9.20.      Certain ERISA Matters . (a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments,

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

(b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y)

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covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Credit Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).

(c) The Administrative Agent, and each Arranger, Co-Syndication Agent and Co-Documentation Agent hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, this Agreement and any other Credit Documents (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Credit Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

[Signature pages follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
By /s/ Jay Bullock    
Name:    Jay Bullock
Title:    Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
ARGO GROUP US, INC.

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By /s/ Jay Bullock    
Name:    Jay Bullock
Title:    Executive Vice President, Finance
ARGO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
By /s/ Jay Bullock    
Name:    Jay Bullock
Title:    Director
ARGO UNDERWRITING AGENCY LIMITED
By /s/ Jay Bullock    
Name:    Jay Bullock
Title:    Director

[Signature Page to Argo Credit Agreement]

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually and as Administrative Agent
By /s/ Danielle D. Babine    
Name: Danielle D. Babine
Title:    Vice President


[Signature Page to Argo Credit Agreement]


WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
By /s/ Jason Hafener    
Name:    Jason Hafener
Title:    Director


[Signature Page to Argo Credit Agreement]

HSBC Bank USA, National Association
By /s/ Teresa Pereyra    
Name:    Teresa Pereyra
Title:    Vice President, Financial Institutions Group

[Signature Page to Argo Credit Agreement]

HSBC BANK BERMUDA LIMITED
By /s/ Louise Twiss West    
Name:    Louise Twiss West
Title:
Director, Head of Financial Institions Group


By /s/ Neville Grant    
Name:    Neville Grant
Title:
Head of Corporate Banking


[Signature Page to Argo Credit Agreement]

LLOYDS BANK CORPORATE MARKETS PLC
By /s/ Erin Walsh    
Name:    Erin Walsh
Title:    Assistant Vice President


By /s/ Daven Popat    
Name:    Daven Popat
Title:    Senior Vice President



[Signature Page to Argo Credit Agreement]

BARCLAYS BANK PLC
By     /s/ Karla Maloof    
Name:    Karla Maloof
Title:    Head of Insurance, Corporate Banking Executed in: New York

[Signature Page to Argo Credit Agreement]

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By /s/ Chris Choi    
Name:    Chris Choi
Title:    Director



[Signature Page to Argo Credit Agreement]


U.S. Bank National Association
By /s/ Ginger So    
Name:    Ginger So
Title:    Senior Vice President

[Signature Page to Argo Credit Agreement]


Frost Bank
By /s/ Julie Glass    
Name:    Julie Glass
Title:    Senior Vice President





[Signature Page to Argo Credit Agreement]


TABLE OF SCHEDULES

Schedule 1.01          Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 1.02          Pricing Schedule

Schedule 1.03         Advance Rates

Schedule 1.04         Trust Preferred Securities

Schedule 2.01         Commitments

Schedule 3.11         Licenses

Schedule 3.12         Subsidiaries

Schedule 6.01         Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02         Existing Liens

Schedule 6.08         Existing Restrictions










Schedule 1.01

Existing Letters of Credit

L/C Number /
Date / Amount
Applicant
Beneficiaries

CTCS-361965

October 5, 2012

$180,000.00

Trident Insurance Services, LLC

•      National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, PA, and
•      American Home Assurance Company, and
•      The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, and
•      Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, and
•      Chartis Property Casualty Company, and
•      Illinois National Insurance Co., and
•      Granite State Insurance Company, and
•      AIU Insurance Company, and
•      Chartis Casualty Company, and
•      New Hampshire Insurance Company, and
•      Chartis Specialty Insurance Company, and
•      Lexington Insurance Company


CTCS-929244

May 23, 2017

$356,730.00


Argo Group US, Inc.

•      413W14 Lessee, L.P. and 421W14 Lessee, L.P. c/o Rockpoint Group, LLC














Schedule 1.02

Pricing Schedule

Applicable Margin
Level I
Status
Level II Status
Level III Status
Level IV Status
Level V Status
Eurocurrency Spread for Revolving Loans
1.25%
1.375%
1.50%
1.75%
2.125%
Alternative Base Rate Spread for Revolving Loans
.25%
.375%
.50%
.75%
1.125%
Eurocurrency Spread for Term Loans
1.00%
1.125%
1.25%
1.50%
1.875%
Alternative Base Rate Spread for Term Loans
.00%
.125%
.25%
.50%
.875%


Applicable Fee Rate
Level I
Status
Level II Status
Level III Status
Level IV Status
Level V Status
Commitment Fee
.15%
.20%
.225%
.275%
.375%
Letter of Credit Fee
1.25%
1.375%
1.50%
1.75%
2.125%
Secured Letter of Credit Fee
.30%
.35%
.40%
.50%
.575%


“Level I Status” exists at any date if, on such date, the S&P Rating or Fitch Rating is BBB+ or better or the Moody’s Rating is Baa1 or better.
“Level II Status” exists at any date if, on such date, (i) the Borrowers have not qualified for Level I Status and (ii) the S&P Rating or Fitch Rating is BBB or better or the Moody’s Rating is Baa2 or better.
“Level III Status” exists at any date if, on such date, (i) the Borrowers have not qualified for Level I Status or Level II Status and (ii) the S&P Rating or Fitch Rating is BBB- or better or the Moody’s Rating is Baa3 or better.
“Level IV Status” exists at any date if, on such date, (i) the Borrowers have not qualified for Level I Status, Level II Status or Level III Status and (ii) the S&P Rating or Fitch Rating is BB+ or better or the Moody’s Rating is Ba1 or better.




“Level V Status” exists at any date if, on such date, the Borrowers have not qualified for Level I Status, Level II Status, Level III Status or Level IV Status.
“Fitch Rating” means, at any time, the issuer credit rating (or comparable rating) issued by Fitch Ratings, Inc. and then in effect with respect to Argo US or Parent.
“Moody’s Rating” means, at any time, the issuer credit rating (or comparable rating) issued by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and then in effect with respect to Argo US or Parent.
“Rating” means a Moody’s Rating, a Fitch Rating or an S&P Rating.
“S&P Rating” means, at any time, the issuer credit rating issued by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business, and then in effect with respect to Argo US or Parent.
The Applicable Rate shall be determined in accordance with the foregoing table based on the Borrowers’ Status as determined from the then-current Moody’s Rating, Fitch Rating and S&P Rating. The Rating in effect on any date for the purposes of this Schedule is that in effect at the close of business on such date. If at any time only one Rating exists, then Status shall be determined on the basis of the existing Rating. If at any time a Borrower has no Moody’s Rating, no Fitch Rating and no S&P Rating, Level V Status shall exist. If at any time a different credit rating is issued by either Moody’s, Fitch or S&P, then the highest of such credit ratings shall apply (with the credit rating for Level I being the highest and the credit rating for Level V being the lowest), unless there is a split in credit ratings of more than one Level, in which case the Level that is one Level higher than the Level of the lowest credit rating shall apply.
If on any date of determination of the Moody’s Rating, Fitch Rating or S&P Rating, as applicable, there exists both an Argo US rating by such rating agency and a Parent rating by such rating agency and there is a split between such ratings, then the higher of such ratings shall apply for purposes of determining the Moody’s Rating, Fitch Rating or S&P Rating, as applicable (unless there is a split in the ratings of such ratings agency by more than one level, in which case the level that is one level higher than the lower rating shall apply).
Until adjusted after the Effective Date, Level III Status shall be deemed to exist.






Schedule 1.03

Advance Rates

Eligible Collateral
Advance Rate
(expressed as a percentage of principal amount)
Cash :
Dollars and any overnight or other investment money market funds of the Collateral Agent or Administrative Agent (or an Affiliate of the Collateral Agent or Administrative Agent) at which a Collateral Account is held
100%
Time Deposits, CDs, Money Market Deposits and Money Market Mutual Funds :
Time deposits, certificates of deposit and money market deposits, denominated in Dollars, of any commercial bank incorporated in the United States with a rating of at least (i) AA- from S&P, (ii) Aa3 from Moody’s or (ii) AA- from Fitch and maturing within two years from the date of determination. Money market mutual funds with institutions not affiliated with the Lenders with same-day liquidity and with a rating of (i) AAA from S&P, (ii) Aaa from Moody's, (iii) AAA from Fitch or (iv) 1 by the NAIC Securities Valuation Office.
90%
U.S. Government Securities :
Securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof).
With maturities of (x) two years or less from the date of determination, 95%, (y) more than two years and ten years or less from the date of determination, 90% and (z) more than ten years from the date of determination, 85%
Investment Grade Municipal Bonds Level I :
Municipal bonds maturing within eleven years from the date of determination rated at least (i) AAA from S&P, (ii) Aaa from Moody's or (iii) AAA from Fitch.
90%
Investment Grade Nonconvertible Corporate Bonds Level I :
Nonconvertible corporate bonds denominated in Dollars or Foreign Currencies which are traded publicly maturing within eleven years from the date of determination rated (a) at least (i) AA- from S&P, (ii) Aa3 from Moody's or (iii) AA- from Fitch, or (b) in the case of corporate bonds rated solely by DBRS, at least AA low from DBRS.
With maturities of (x) two years or less from the date of determination, 90% and (y) more than two years and eleven years or less from the date of determination, 85%




Eligible Collateral
Advance Rate
(expressed as a percentage of principal amount)
Investment Grade Nonconvertible Corporate Bonds Level II :
Nonconvertible corporate bonds denominated in Dollars or Foreign Currencies which are traded publicly, maturing within eleven years from the date of determination rated (a) at least (i) A- from S&P, (ii) A3 from Moody's or (iii) A- from Fitch, or (b) in the case of corporate bonds rated solely by DBRS, at least A low from DBRS.
80%
Commercial Paper :
Commercial paper issued by any entity organized in the United States and denominated in Dollars and maturing not more than one year after the date of determination rated at least (i) A-1 or the equivalent thereof by S&P, (ii) P-1 or the equivalent thereof by Moody's or (iii) F-1 or the equivalent thereof by Fitch.
90%
Agency Securities :
(i) Single-class mortgage participation certificates in book-entry form and denominated in Dollars backed by single-family residential mortgage loans, the full and timely payment of interest at the applicable certificate rate and the ultimate collection of principal of which are guaranteed by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (excluding REMIC or other multi-class pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations, pass-through certificates backed by adjustable rate mortgages, securities paying interest or principal only and similar derivative securities); (ii) single-class mortgage pass-through certificates in book-entry form and denominated in Dollars backed by single-family residential mortgage loans, the full and timely payment of interest at the applicable certificate rate and ultimate collection of principal of which are guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (excluding REMIC or other multi-class pass-through certificates, pass-through certificates backed by adjustable rate mortgages, collateralized mortgage obligations, securities paying interest or principal only and similar derivative securities); and (iii) single-class fully modified pass-through certificates in book-entry form and denominated in Dollars backed by single-family residential mortgage loans, the full and timely payment of principal and interest of which is guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (excluding REMIC or other multi-class pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations, pass-through certificates backed by adjustable rate mortgages, securities paying interest or principal only and similar derivatives securities), in each case rated at least CD AA- by S&P, (ii) Aa3 by Moody's or (iii) AA- by Fitch.
With a weighted average life from the date of determination of (x) two years or less from the date of determination, 95%, (y) more than two years and ten years or less from the date of determination, 90% and (z) more than ten years from the date of determination, 85%




Eligible Collateral
Advance Rate
(expressed as a percentage of principal amount)
Asset-Backed Securities :
Asset-backed securities denominated in Dollars rated at least (i) AAA by S&P, (ii) Aaa by Moody's or AAA by Fitch; provided that (x) such securities are backed by credit card receivables, automobile loans, commercial mortgages or utility charges (as in rate reduction bonds) and have a weighted average life from the date of determination of 10 years or less and (y) asset-backed securities will not constitute Eligible Collateral if they are certificated securities that cannot be paid or delivered by book entry (and all asset-backed securities issued by an issuer incorporated in the United States of America must be capable of settlement through DTC).
85%
Other Securities :
All other cash, investments, obligations or securities.
0%






Schedule 1.04

Trust Preferred Securities

1.
PXRE Capital Statutory Trust II, incorporated in Connecticut, issued in the amount of $18,100,000 on May 15, 2003, maturing May 15, 2033.

2.
PXRE Capital Trust VI, incorporated in Delaware, issued in the amount of $10,300,000 on November 6, 2003, maturing September 30, 2033.

3.
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust, incorporated in Connecticut, issued in the amount of     $15,500,000 on May 15, 2003, maturing May 15, 2033.

4.
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust III, incorporated in Delaware, issued in the amount of     $12,300,000 on December 16, 2003, maturing January 8, 2034.

5.
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust IV, incorporated in Delaware, issued in the amount of     $13,400,000 on April 29, 2004, maturing April 29, 2034.

6.
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust V, incorporated in Delaware, issued in the amount of     $12,300,000 on May 26, 2004, maturing May 24, 2034.

7.
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust VI, incorporated in Connecticut, issued in the amount     of $13,400,000 on May 12, 2004, maturing May 12, 2034.

8.
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust VII, incorporated in Delaware, issued in the amount of     $15,500,000 on September 17, 2004, maturing December 15, 2034.

9.
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust VIII, incorporated in Delaware, issued in the amount of     $15,500,000 on September 22, 2004, maturing September 22, 2034.

10.
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust IX, incorporated in Delaware, issued in the amount of     $15,500,000 on October 22, 2004, maturing December 15, 2034.

11.
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust X, incorporated in Delaware, issued in the amount of     $30,900,000 on September 15, 2005, maturing September 15, 2035.

12.
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable     Interest Debentures,     issued in the amount of $100,000,000 on September 13, 2007,     maturing on September 15, 2037 (current outstanding $91,800,000 as of June 30, 2018).





Schedule 2.01

Commitments

Lender
Revolving Commitments
Term Loan Commitments
Qualifying Lender? Y/N
DTTP Reference Number (if applicable)
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
$30,000,000
$25,000,000
USA 13/M/0268710/DTTP
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
$30,000,000
$25,000,000
USA 13/W/61173/DTTP
Bank of America, N.A.
$30,000,000
$25,000,000
USA
13/B/7418/DTTP
U.S. Bank National Association
$25,000,000
$15,250,000
 
HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
$25,000,000
$0
 
HSBC Bank Bermuda Ltd.
$0
$15,250,000
 
Barclays Bank PLC
$20,000,000
$6,500,000
 
Frost Bank
$20,000,000
$6,500,000
 
Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets PLC
$20,000,000
$6,500,000
 
TOTAL
$200,000,000
$125,000,000
 








Schedule 2.17(g)
QPP Certificate

To:    [●] as [Parent or Administrative Agent]
From:    [ Lender ]
Dated:    [●]
Dear Sirs,
[Parent] – [US$325,000,000] Credit Agreement
dated [●] (as amended) (the “Credit Agreement”)
1.
We refer to the Credit Agreement. This is a QPP Certificate. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement have the same meaning in this QPP Certificate unless given a different meaning in this QPP Certificate.
2.
We confirm that:
(a)
we are beneficially entitled to all interest payable to us as a Lender under the Loan;
(b)
we are a resident of a qualifying territory; and
(c)
we are beneficially entitled to the interest which is payable to us on the Loan for genuine commercial reasons, and not as part of a tax advantage scheme.
These confirmations together form a creditor certificate.
3.
In this QPP Certificate the terms "resident", "qualifying territory", "scheme", "tax advantage scheme" and "creditor certificate" have the meaning given to them in the Qualifying Private Placement Regulations 2015 (2015 No. 2002).

[ Name of Lender ]
By:

[ This QPP Certificate is required where a lender is a person eligible for the UK withholding tax exemption for qualifying private placements; a separate QPP Certificate should be provided by each such lender. ]















Schedule 3.11

Licenses

( See attached )






US Insurers – Authority by State
 
Argonaut Insurance Company
NAIC #19801
FEIN 94-1390273
Illinois
Argonaut-Midwest Insurance Company
NAIC #19828
FEIN 36-2489372
Illinois
Argonaut-Southwest Insurance Company
NAIC #19844
FEIN 94-6064785
Illinois
Select Markets Insurance Company
NAIC #19836
FEIN 94-6095888
Illinois
Argonaut Limited Risk Insurance Company
NAIC # 26409
FEIN 58-1164048
Illinois
Argonaut Great Central Insurance Company
NAIC #19860
FEIN 37-030164
Illinois
ARIS Title Insurance Corporation
NAIC #12600
FEIN 20-1991050
New York
Colony Insurance Company
NAIC #39993
FEIN 54-1423096
Virginia
Colony Specialty Insurance Company
NAIC #36927
FEIN 34-1266871
Ohio
Peleus Insurance Company
NAIC #34118
FEIN 65-0075940
Virginia
Rockwood Casualty Insurance Company
NAIC #35505
FEIN 25-1620138
Pennsylvania
Somerset Casualty Insurance Company
NAIC #10726
FEIN 23-2904771
Pennsylvania
Alabama
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Alaska
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Arizona
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Arkansas
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
California
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
 
 
 
Colorado
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Connecticut
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Delaware
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
District of Columbia
Admitted
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Florida
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Georgia
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Guam
Admitted
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hawaii
Admitted
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Idaho:
Admitted
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Illinois
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Indiana
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Iowa
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Kansas
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Kentucky
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 




 
Argonaut Insurance Company
NAIC #19801
FEIN 94-1390273
Illinois
Argonaut-Midwest Insurance Company
NAIC #19828
FEIN 36-2489372
Illinois
Argonaut-Southwest Insurance Company
NAIC #19844
FEIN 94-6064785
Illinois
Select Markets Insurance Company
NAIC #19836
FEIN 94-6095888
Illinois
Argonaut Limited Risk Insurance Company
NAIC # 26409
FEIN 58-1164048
Illinois
Argonaut Great Central Insurance Company
NAIC #19860
FEIN 37-030164
Illinois
ARIS Title Insurance Corporation
NAIC #12600
FEIN 20-1991050
New York
Colony Insurance Company
NAIC #39993
FEIN 54-1423096
Virginia
Colony Specialty Insurance Company
NAIC #36927
FEIN 34-1266871
Ohio
Peleus Insurance Company
NAIC #34118
FEIN 65-0075940
Virginia
Rockwood Casualty Insurance Company
NAIC #35505
FEIN 25-1620138
Pennsylvania
Somerset Casualty Insurance Company
NAIC #10726
FEIN 23-2904771
Pennsylvania
Louisiana
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Maine
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Maryland
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Massachusetts
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Michigan
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
Minnesota
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Mississippi
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Missouri
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Montana
Admitted
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Nebraska
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Nevada
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
New Hampshire
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
 
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
New Jersey
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
New Mexico
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
New York
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
 
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
New York.
Free Trade Zone
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
North Carolina
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
North Dakota
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Ohio
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Oklahoma
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Oregon
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Pennsylvania
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Admitted




 
Argonaut Insurance Company
NAIC #19801
FEIN 94-1390273
Illinois
Argonaut-Midwest Insurance Company
NAIC #19828
FEIN 36-2489372
Illinois
Argonaut-Southwest Insurance Company
NAIC #19844
FEIN 94-6064785
Illinois
Select Markets Insurance Company
NAIC #19836
FEIN 94-6095888
Illinois
Argonaut Limited Risk Insurance Company
NAIC # 26409
FEIN 58-1164048
Illinois
Argonaut Great Central Insurance Company
NAIC #19860
FEIN 37-030164
Illinois
ARIS Title Insurance Corporation
NAIC #12600
FEIN 20-1991050
New York
Colony Insurance Company
NAIC #39993
FEIN 54-1423096
Virginia
Colony Specialty Insurance Company
NAIC #36927
FEIN 34-1266871
Ohio
Peleus Insurance Company
NAIC #34118
FEIN 65-0075940
Virginia
Rockwood Casualty Insurance Company
NAIC #35505
FEIN 25-1620138
Pennsylvania
Somerset Casualty Insurance Company
NAIC #10726
FEIN 23-2904771
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Admitted
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rhode Island
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
South Carolina
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
South Dakota
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Tennessee
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
 
 
Texas
Admitted
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
US Department of Labor
USL&H
USL&H
USL&H
USL&H
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
US Department of Treasury
Certified Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certified Company
 
Utah
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Vermont
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Virgin Islands
Admitted
 
 
 
 
 
 
Surplus Lines
 
 
 
 
Virginia
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Admitted
 
Washington
Admitted
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
West Virgion
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Wisconsin
Admitted
Admitted
 
 
 
Admitted
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
Wyoming
Admitted
 
 
 
 
 
 
Surplus Lines
Admitted
Surplus Lines
Admitted
 
 
57
51
12
10
1
48
1
52
51
51
50
1





International – Authority by Country
 
Argo Re Ltd.
Argo Seguros Brasil, S.A.
ArgoGlobal SE
Argo Managing Agency, Ltd.
Argo Direct, Ltd.
ArgoGlobal Underwriting Asia Pacific PTE Ltd
ArgoGlobal Underwriting (Dubai) Limited
PXRE Reinsurance (Barbados), Ltd.
Argonaut Insurance Company
ArgoGlobal Assicurazioni S.p.A.
Ariel Re Bda Limited
Austria
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barbados
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance Company
 
 
 
Belgium
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance Manager and Insurance Agent
Bermuda
Class 4 Insurance Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brazil
Admitted Reinsurer
Licensed Insurance Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bulgaria
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Croatia
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cyprus
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Czech Republic
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denmark
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dubai
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance Manager and Intermediary
 
 
 
 
Ecuador
Foreign Reinsurer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estonia
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finland
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
France
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Germany
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Greece
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hungary
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Iceland
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ireland
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Italy
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
Licensed Insurance Company
 
Latvia
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liechtenstein
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lithuania
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lloyds Syndicate Operating Company
 
 
 
X
X
X
 
 
 
 
 




 
Argo Re Ltd.
Argo Seguros Brasil, S.A.
ArgoGlobal SE
Argo Managing Agency, Ltd.
Argo Direct, Ltd.
ArgoGlobal Underwriting Asia Pacific PTE Ltd
ArgoGlobal Underwriting (Dubai) Limited
PXRE Reinsurance (Barbados), Ltd.
Argonaut Insurance Company
ArgoGlobal Assicurazioni S.p.A.
Ariel Re Bda Limited
Luxembourg
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Malta
 
 
Class 13, 15 & 16 Insurer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Malta.
 
 
Class 13 & 16 Reinsurer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Netherlands
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Norway
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Panama
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Reinsurer
 
 
Poland
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Portugal
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Romania
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Slovakia
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Slovenia
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spain
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sweden
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Switzerland
 
 
Registered Branch
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United Kingdom
 
 
Freedom of Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 













Schedule 3.12

Subsidiaries

All Significant Insurance Subsidiaries listed below are authorized to write property and casualty insurance or reinsurance as indicated below. No Significant Insurance Subsidiary is authorized to write life or health insurance or reinsurance.

Each Significant Subsidiary is designated with one asterisk (*)
Each Significant Insurance Subsidiary is designated with two asterisks (**)

Company Name
Parent
% owned by Parent
NAIC #
Domicilliary Location
Federal ID #
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
 
100.00%
 
BMU
98-0214719
Barr's Bay Properties Limited
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
40.00%
 
BMU
N/A
Argo International Holdings AG
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
100.00%
 
CHE
N/A
The Argo Foundation
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
100.00%
 
BMU
N/A
PXRE Capital Statutory Trust II
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
100.00%
 
CT
30-6079295
PXRE Capital Statutory Trust VI
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
100.00%
 
DE
30-6078985
Ariel Re Property & Casualty
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Ariel Corporate Member Limited*
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Ariel Re Bda Limited
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
100.00%
 
BMU
N/A
Ariel Re UK Limited
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo Re Ltd.**
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
100.00%
 
BMU
N/A
PXRE Reinsurance (Barbados), Ltd.
Argo Re Ltd.
100.00%
 
BRB
98-0214301
Argo Re Escritório de Representação no Brasil Ltda.
Argo Re Ltd.
100.00%
 
BRA
N/A
Argo Irish Holdings I Ltd.*
Argo Re Ltd.
100.00%
 
BMU
N/A
Argo Irish Holdings II
Argo Irish Holdings I Ltd.
100.00%
 
BMU
N/A
Argo International Holdings Ltd.*
Argo Re Ltd.
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
ArgoGlobal Holdings (Malta) Ltd.
Argo Re Ltd.
99.99%
 
MLT
N/A
ArgoGlobal Holdings (Malta) Ltd.
Argo International Holdings Ltd.
0.01%
 
MLT
N/A
Argonaut Services GmbH
ArgoGlobal Holdings (Malta) Ltd.
100.00%
 
CHE
N/A
ArgoGlobal SE
ArgoGlobal Holdings (Malta) Ltd.
99.99%
 
MLT
N/A
ArgoGlobal SE
Argo International Holdings Ltd.
0.01%
 
MLT
N/A
Affinibox Holdings, Ltd.
Argo International Holdings Ltd.
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Affinibox Brasil Tecnologia Ltda.
Affinibox Holdings, Ltd.
100.00%
 
BRA
N/A




Company Name
Parent
% owned by Parent
NAIC #
Domicilliary Location
Federal ID #
Affinibox, Inc.
Affinibox Holdings, Ltd.
100.00%
 
TX
13-4240810
ArgoGlobal Assicurazioni S.p.A.
Argo International Holdings Ltd.
100.00%
 
ITA
N/A
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd*
Argo International Holdings Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo (No 617), Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo (No 604), Ltd*
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo (No 616), Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo (No 607), Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo (No 703), Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo (No 704), Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo (Alpha) Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo (Chi) Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo (Delta) Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo (Epsilon) Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo (Zeta) Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo Management Services Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo Managing Agency Ltd
Argo Underwriting Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
Argo Direct Ltd
Argo Managing Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
GBR
N/A
ArgoGlobal Underwriting Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.
Argo Managing Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
SGP
N/A
ArgoGlobal Underwriting (Dubai) Limited
Argo Managing Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
ARE
N/A
ArgoGlobal Insurance Services, Inc.
Argo Managing Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
DE
46-2605082
ArgoGlobal Services (Hong Kong) Ltd
Argo Managing Agency Ltd
100.00%
 
HKG
N/A
Argo Solutions, S.A.
Argo Re Ltd.
0.10%
 
BEL
N/A
Argo Solutions, S.A.
Argo Financial Holding (Ireland) UC
99.90%
 
BEL
N/A
Argo Financial Holding (Ireland) UC*
Argo Irish Holdings I Ltd.
99.90%
 
IRL
N/A
Argo Financial Holding (Ireland) UC*
Argo Irish Holdings II
0.10%
 
IRL
N/A
Argo Financial Holding (Brazil) DAC
Argo Financial Holding (Ireland) UC
100.00%
 
IRL
N/A
Argo Seguros Brasil, S.A.
Argo Financial Holding (Brazil) DAC
100.00%
 
BRA
N/A
Argo Group US, Inc.*
Argo Financial Holding (Ireland) UC
100.00%
 
DE
06-1183996
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
CT
74-6527228
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust III
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
DE
N/A
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust IV
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
DE
N/A
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust V
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
DE
N/A
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust VI
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
CT
N/A
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust VII
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
DE
N/A
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust VIII
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
DE
N/A
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust IX
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
DE
N/A




Company Name
Parent
% owned by Parent
NAIC #
Domicilliary Location
Federal ID #
Argonaut Group Statutory Trust X
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
DE
N/A
Argonaut Management Services, Inc.
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
DE
74-2999179
Argo Group Fund to Secure the Future
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
TX
20-3716435
ARIS Title Insurance Corporation
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
12600
NY
20-1991050
Colony Agency Services, Inc.
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
VA
22-2808825
Colony Management Services, Inc.
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
VA
54-1737802
Trident Insurance Services, LLC
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
TX
74-2948177
Argonaut Claims Management, LLC
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
TX
20-2497327
Argonaut Claims Services, Ltd.
Argonaut Claims Management, LLC
1.00%
 
TX
33-1113738
Argonaut Claims Services, Ltd.
Argo Group US, Inc.
99.00%
 
TX
33-1113738
Arden Insurance Services LLC
Argo Group US, Inc.
29.10%
 
DE
47-4098024
Alteris Insurance Services, Inc.
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
MA
04-2442943
Alteris, Inc.
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
 
DE
27-2257819
Argonaut Insurance Company**
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
19801
IL
94-1390273
AGI Properties, Inc.
Argonaut Insurance Company
100.00%
 
CA
95-2746313
Insight Insurance Services, Inc.
Argonaut Insurance Company
100.00%
 
IL
36-3523056
Argonaut-Midwest Insurance Company
Argonaut Insurance Company
100.00%
19828
IL
36-2489372
Argonaut-Southwest Insurance Company
Argonaut Insurance Company
100.00%
19844
IL
94-6064785
Select Markets Insurance Company
Argonaut Insurance Company
100.00%
19836
IL
94-6095888
Argonaut Limited Risk Insurance Company
Argonaut Insurance Company
100.00%
26409
IL
58-1164048
Argonaut Great Central Insurance Company
Argonaut Insurance Company
100.00%
19860
IL
37-0301640
Grocers Insurance Agency, Inc.
Argonaut Great Central Insurance Company
100.00%
 
OR
93-0583520
Central Insurance Management, Inc.
Argonaut Great Central Insurance Company
100.00%
 
IL
37-1241304
Colony Insurance Company**
Argonaut Insurance Company
100.00%
39993
VA
54-1423096
Peleus Insurance Company
Colony Insurance Company
100.00%
34118
VA
65-0075940
Colony Specialty Insurance Company
Colony Insurance Company
100.00%
36927
OH
34-1266871
Rockwood Casualty Insurance Company**
Argo Group US, Inc.
100.00%
35505
PA
25-1620138
Somerset Casualty Insurance Company
Rockwood Casualty Insurance Company
100.00%
10726
PA
23-2904771

 













Schedule 6.01

Existing Indebtedness

1.
Those certain Notes in the amount of $6,500,000 that were issued by Heritage Underwriting Agency plc on December 7, 2004 and that are due in 2034 purchased by Merrill Lynch International.

2.
Those certain Notes in the amount of $10,000,000 that were issued by Heritage Underwriting Agency plc on October 31, 2006 and that are due in 2036 purchased by Alesco Preferred Funding XI, Ltd.

3.
Those certain Notes in the amount of €12,000,000 that were issued by Heritage Underwriting Agency plc on September 6, 2005 and that are due in 2035 purchased by Dekania Europe CDO I plc.

4.
Those certain Notes in the amount of €1,500,000 that were issued by Heritage Underwriting Agency plc on June 8, 2007 and that are due in 2037 purchased by Dekania Europe CDO II plc.

5.
Those certain Notes in the amount of €l2,000,000 that were issued by Heritage Underwriting Agency plc on June 8, 2007 and that are due in 2037 purchased by Dekania Europe CDO III plc.

6.
Those certain Notes in the amount of €l0,500,000 that were issued by Heritage Underwriting Agency plc on October 31, 2006 and that are due in 2036 purchased by Dekania Europe CDO II plc.

7.
Those certain Senior Notes in the amount of $143,750,000 that were issued by Argo Group US, Inc. in September 2012 and that are due September 15, 2042. The Senior Notes are guaranteed on a full and unconditional senior unsecured basis by Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.

8.
Uncommitted Letter of Credit Agreement, dated as of April 3, 2014, between Argo Re, Ltd. and Citibank Europe, Plc., and all Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement.

9.
$150,000,000 Letter of Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2014, between Argo Re Ltd., as Borrower, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Issuing Bank, and all Letter of Credit issued under this Agreement.

10.
$50,000,000 Letter of Credit Facility and Pledge Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2017, between Argo Re Ltd., as Borrower, and Barclays Bank PLC as Issuer, and all Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement.





11.
A note payable issued by Argo Group US, Inc. in connection with the acquisition of ARIS Title Insurance Corporation. At June 30, 2018 the balance of the note payable was $0.6 million, and it matures on April 1, 2019.

12.
Other letters of credit issued for ordinary business purposes (primarily office leases). At June 30, 2018, letters of credit issued for ordinary business purposes totaled $0.5 million.

13.
£23,281,000 Letter of Credit Facility Agreement, dated on or about November 5, 2018, between Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. and Argo (No. 604) Limited, as Borrowers, and Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc as Lender.

14.
Trust Preferred Securities as listed on Schedule 1.04 .

15.
The Barclays Bank PLC Rent (Property) Guarantee Reference UKT1000021295 in consideration of Saxon Land B.V. granting a lease of the premises known as Floor 1, Fen Court, London EC3M 5AF to Argo Underwriting Agency Limited not to exceed the sum of GBP 1,964,360.00 dated March 15, 2018.

16.
The Guarantee provided by Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. pursuant to the Occupational Lease dated March 16, 2018 between Saxon Land B.V. and Argo Underwriting Agency Limited for the premises known as Floor 1, Fen Court, London EC3M 5AF.

17.
The Term Loan in the amount of $125 million and the Letters of Credit disclosed on Schedule 1.01outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement.







Schedule 6.02

Existing Liens

1.
Precautionary filing with respect to lessor interests in office equipment and other fixed assets under various operating leases.

2.
The security granted by Argo Underwriting Agency Limited, Ariel Corporate Member Limited, and Argo Re, Ltd. to Lloyd’s, referred to as Funds at Lloyds ("FAL") to support the business of Syndicates 1200 and 1910. The FAL securities are deposited with Lloyd's and held under the terms of the Lloyd's Deposit (Third Party) Trust Deed. At June 30, 2018 FAL totaled $373.9 million.

3.
At June 30, 2018, the fair value of investments on deposit with U.S. and various regulatory agencies for regulatory purposes was $167.0 million.

4.
Cash and investments pledged pursuant to the Letter of Credit Agreements included in Schedule 6.01 between Argo Re, Ltd and Citibank Europe, Plc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Barclays Bank PLC.

5.
The Argo Insurance Subsidiaries are required to pledge cash and investments under the terms of certain reinsurance and insurance agreements in respect of losses and loss expenses.

6.
As part of the ARIS Title Insurance Corporation acquisition, the Berger Collection Educational Trust has a continuing security interest in ARIS Title Insurance Corporation and its assets to secure payment for the note payable for $0.6 million, of which $0.2 million is on a recourse basis.

7.
Precautionary filing with respect to various custody agreements in place by the Insurance Subsidiaries for security interests held by the custodian in such arrangements in the collateral held pursuant to such agreements for payment of custodian fees.

8.
The assets of Syndicates 1200 and 1910 are held subject to Lloyd’s Trust Deeds for the benefit of policyholders and the Company’s use is restricted.








Schedule 6.08

Existing Restrictions

1.
Restrictions upon the ability of the applicable trust to pay dividends or make distributions to the Borrowers or upon the ability of affiliates of the Borrowers to make payments on account of their securities under certain circumstances, in either case imposed by the terms of the Trust Preferred Securities.

2.
At June 30, 2018, the fair value of investments on deposit with U.S. and various regulatory agencies for regulatory purposes was $167.0 million.

3.
Investments with a fair value of $78.1 million were pledged as collateral in support of irrevocable letters of credit at June 30, 2018. These assets support irrevocable letters of credit issued under the terms of certain reinsurance and insurance agreements in respect of reported loss and loss expense reserves in the amount of $53.1 million. In addition, $13.6 million of cash and securities were included in trust accounts pledged to support certain reinsurance and insurance contracts.

4.
The negative pledge provisions contained in those certain notes issued by Heritage Underwriting Agency plc (now known as “Argo Underwriting Agency Limited” or “AUA”) identified on Schedule 6.01 which prevent AUA from creating or having outstanding any mortgage, charge, lien, pledge or other security interest over any of its present or future undertakings, assets or revenues to secure (i) any present or future indebtedness for or in respect of any notes, bonds, debentures or other securities; and (ii) any guarantee or indemnity for any such indebtedness, without first ensuring that all amounts payable under the notes are secured by the security interest equally and ratably with the relevant indebtedness or that such security interest is only provided as approved by the noteholders, but specifically excluding indebtedness arising pursuant to any secured or unsecured commercial bank lending by way of a syndicated or bilateral loan agreement.

5.
Lloyds of London has a security interest in securities pledged by Argo Underwriting Agency Limited, Ariel Corporate Member Limited, and Argo Re, Ltd. referred to as Funds at Lloyds ("FAL") to support the business of Syndicates 1200 and 1910. The FAL securities are deposited with Lloyd's and held under the terms of the Lloyd's Deposit (Third Party) Trust Deed. At June 30, 2018 FAL totaled $373.9 million.

6.
The assets of Syndicates 1200 and 1910 are held subject to Lloyd’s Trust Deeds for the benefit of policyholders and the Company’s use is restricted.

7.
The ability of Argo Group International Holding, Ltd.’s Insurance Subsidiaries to pay dividends is subject to certain restrictions imposed by the jurisdictions of domicile that regulate the Insurance Subsidiaries, and each jurisdiction has calculations for the amount of dividends that an insurance and reinsurance company can pay without the approval of the insurance regulator.









EXHIBIT A
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Assignment and Assumption (this “ Assignment and Assumption ”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [ Insert name of Assignor ] (the “ Assignor ”) and [ Insert name of Assignee ] (the “ Assignee ”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “ Assigned Interest ”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.
1.
Assignor:         
2.
Assignee:         

[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]]
3.
Borrower(s):    Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Argo Group US, Inc., Argo International Holdings Limited, and Argo Underwriting Agency Limited
4.
Administrative Agent: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement




5.
Credit Agreement:    The $325,000,000 Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 2018 among Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Argo Group US, Inc., Argo International Holdings Limited, and Argo Underwriting Agency Limited, the Lenders parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
6.
Assigned Interest:
Facility Assigned
Aggregate Amount of Commitment/Loans for all Lenders
Amount of Commitment/Loans Assigned
Percentage Assigned of Commitment/Loans
 
$
$
%
 
$
$
%
 
$
$
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Effective Date: _____________ ___, 20___ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]
The Assignee agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more Credit Contacts (as defined in the Administrative Questionnaire) to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrowers or their affiliates and their related parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.
The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By:    
Title:
ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By:    
Title:

2



[Consented to and] Accepted:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as
Administrative Agent
By     
Title:
[Consented to:]
[NAME OF RELEVANT PARTY]
By     
Title:


3


ANNEX 1
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
1.     Representations and Warranties .
1.1     Assignor . The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrowers, any Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Credit Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrowers, any of the Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Credit Document.
1.2.     Assignee . The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) attached to this Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
2.     Payments . From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

1



3.     General Provisions . This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by email or telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.


2



EXHIBIT B-1

FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Argo Group US, Inc., Argo International Holdings Limited and Argo Underwriting Agency Limited (collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “ Administrative Agent ”).
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF LENDER]
By:______________________________________
    Name:
    Title:
Date: ________ __, 20__






EXHIBIT B-2
FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Argo Group US, Inc., Argo International Holdings Limited and Argo Underwriting Agency Limited (collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “ Administrative Agent ”).
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:______________________________________
    Name:
    Title:
Date: ________ __, 20__






EXHIBIT B-3
FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Argo Group US, Inc., Argo International Holdings Limited and Argo Underwriting Agency Limited (collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “ Administrative Agent ”).
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:______________________________________
    Name:
    Title:
Date: ________ __, 20__




EXHIBIT B-4
FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Argo Group US, Inc., Argo International Holdings Limited and Argo Underwriting Agency Limited (collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “ Administrative Agent ”).
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner's/member's beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF LENDER]
By:______________________________________
    Name:
    Title:
Date: ________ __, 20__




EXHIBIT C
Form of Several Letter of Credit

[JPMorgan Chase Bank Letterhead]

For Internal Identification
Purposes Only
Our No. __________
Applicant: [Insert full applicant name and address]
Issue Date:
[Insert date of issuance]
Beneficiary:
[Insert full Beneficiary name and address]
We, the issuing banks listed below (hereinafter referred to individually as an “Issuing Bank” and collectively as the “Issuing Banks”), hereby establish this clean, unconditional and irrevocable letter of credit in your favor as beneficiary (the “Beneficiary”) for drawings up to [amount] (this “Letter of Credit”). This Letter of Credit is issued and effective on the date hereof.
This Letter of Credit is issued, presentable and payable at the office of the Issuing Agent (as defined below) at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 S. Dearborn, 9th Floor, Suite IL1-0364, Chicago, IL 60603 to the attention of the standby letter of credit unit, or such other office in the United States of America as we may advise from time to time, and expires with the Issuing Agent’s close of business on [__________] (month, day, year) (the “Expiration Date,” as such date may be extended as set forth below). “Issuing Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N. A., acting solely as administrative agent and attorney-in-fact for the Issuing Banks.
The term “Beneficiary” includes any successor by operation of law of the named Beneficiary, including, without limitation, any liquidator, rehabilitator, receiver, or conservator.
We hereby undertake to promptly honor your sight draft(s) drawn on us, indicating credit number [__________] for all or any part of this Letter of Credit upon presentation of your draft drawn on us at the office of the Issuing Agent specified above or such other office in the United States of America as we may advise from time to time, on or before the Expiration Date hereof, or any automatically extended expiry date.




Except as expressly stated herein, this undertaking is not subject to any agreement, condition or qualification outside of this Letter of Credit. The obligation of each Issuing Bank under this Letter of Credit is the individual obligation of each Issuing Bank and is in no way contingent upon reimbursement with respect thereto.
This Letter of Credit shall be deemed automatically extended without amendment for one year from the Expiration Date hereof, or any future expiration date, unless at least thirty (30) [sixty (60)] days prior to any expiration date we send notice to you by registered mail or overnight courier that we elect not to consider this Letter of Credit extended for any such additional period.
This Letter of Credit is subject to and governed by the laws of the State of New York and the 2007 revision of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits of the International Chamber of Commerce (Publication 600) and, in the event of any conflict, the laws of the State of New York will control. If this Letter of Credit [or Confirmation thereof, as defined below] expires during an interruption of the Issuing Agent‘s business as described in article 36 of said Publication 600, the Issuing Agent hereby specifically agrees to effect payment if this Letter of Credit is drawn against within thirty (30) days after the resumption of the Issuing Agent’s business.
All correspondence and any drawings in connection with this Letter of Credit must only be presented at 10 S. Dearborn, 9th Floor, Suite IL1-0364, Chicago, IL 60603, or such other office of the Issuing Agent located in the United States of America as we may advise from time to time, to the attention of the standby letter of credit unit, including the letter of credit number mentioned above for telephone assistance, please contact the standby client service unit at 1-800-634-1969, select option 1, or 312-954-1508 and have this Letter of Credit number available.
Each of the Issuing Banks agrees, for itself alone and not jointly with any other Issuing Bank, to honor a sight draft drawn by you and presented to the Issuing Agent at its office address in the United States of America, in an amount not to exceed the aggregate amount available multiplied by such Issuing Bank’s percentage obligation as set forth herein (the “Percentage Obligation”) and in accordance with the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
The obligations of the Issuing Banks hereunder shall be several and not joint. Upon the transfer by an Issuing Bank to the Issuing Agent for your account of the amount specified in a sight draft drawn on such Issuing Bank hereunder, such Issuing Bank shall be fully discharged of its obligations under this Letter of Credit with respect to such sight draft. The failure of any Issuing Bank to make funds available to the Issuing Agent for payment under this letter of credit shall not relieve any other Issuing Bank of its obligation hereunder to make funds available to the Issuing Agent; neither the Issuing Agent nor any Issuing Bank shall be responsible for the failure of any other Issuing Bank to make funds available to the Issuing Agent. [The obligations of [Non-NAIC Approved Bank] under this Letter of Credit are confirmed by [NAIC-Approved Bank] pursuant to the confirmation attached hereto as Schedule C-1 (the “Confirmation”).]
By your acceptance hereof, you agree that (i) the Issuing Agent, in such capacity, shall have no obligation or liability to honor any drawing under this Letter of Credit, provided, however, that nothing in this clause (i) shall relieve the Issuing Agent of its obligations, if any, (a) as an Issuing Bank, (b) as a confirming bank, or (c) to make payment hereunder for your account with funds




transferred to the Issuing Agent by Issuing Banks with respect to sight drafts presented by you; (ii) neither any Issuing Bank nor the Issuing Agent shall be responsible for the obligations of any other Issuing Bank, including any obligation to make payment hereunder; and (iii) an Issuing Bank may assign in full or in part any or all of its obligations to another Issuing Bank(s) and in such event the assignee Issuing Bank(s) would become Issuing Bank(s) (as the case may be) in the applicable percentage(s) of the assignor Issuing Bank who would cease to be obligated under this Letter of Credit to the extent of such assigned obligations; provided that no such event will reduce the then available amount under this Letter of Credit.
Upon the occurrence of any such event contemplated in (iii) above, the Issuing Agent will provide prompt notice to you of such event, including any change in the identities of the Issuing Banks severally but not jointly liable in respect of the aggregate undrawn amount of this Letter of Credit (based upon their respective applicable percentages thereof) and any change in such applicable percentages (and in the identities of any related confirming banks). The Issuing Banks have represented that in the event of an assignment any assignee Issuing Bank will be (a) a bank listed on the then current “NAIC List of Qualified U.S. Financial Institutions” maintained by the securities valuation office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as issuers of letters of credit for which reinsurance reserve credit can be given (the “NAIC Bank List’’) as of the time of assignment and is a “Qualified Bank” as defined in New York Regulation 133 or (b) a bank that is not listed on the NAIC Bank List whose confirming bank, pursuant to the Confirmation, is a bank listed on such NAIC Bank List and is a “Qualified Bank” as defined in New York Regulation 133 (in either event, a “Authorized Bank”).
The Issuing Banks (listed with an NAIC Bank List approved bank name/entity and ABA routing number) and their respective Percentage Obligations (in a whole number format followed by decimal and six places after the decimal) are as follows:

Issuing Banks
ABA Routing No.
Percentage Obligations
[ ]
[ ]
%
[ ]
[ ]
%
[ ]
[ ]
%


JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Issuing Agent and as attorney-in-fact, has the authority to act as agent for the Issuing Banks [and [Non-NAIC Approved Bank] as confirmed by [NAIC-Approved Bank]] obligated under this Letter of Credit and has full power of attorney from such banks to act on their behalf to: (a) receive drafts, other demands for payment and other documents presented by the beneficiary hereunder, (b) determine whether such drafts, demands and documents are in compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and (c) notify the Issuing Banks and Applicant that a valid drawing has been made and the date that the related payment is to be made.
This Letter of Credit cannot be modified or revoked without your prior written consent, provided that it may be amended by an amendment signed solely by the Issuing Agent (and without your consent) to reflect (a) an assignment by an Issuing Bank to an Authorized Bank as provided




above or (b) change Percentage Obligations; provided that such amendment does not decrease the aggregate available amount under this Letter of Credit.



Very truly yours,

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N. A., as Issuing Agent on behalf of the Issuing Banks






[ SCHEDULE C-1]
[FORM OF CONFIRMATION OF SEVERAL LETTER OF CREDIT]
IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT NO. ________
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
(Issue Date)
TO: (Beneficiary)
We hereby confirm on behalf of [Non-NAIC Approved Bank] a party to the enclosed irrevocable several Letter of Credit No. _____________ and amendments thereto, if any, issued in favor of the aforesaid addressee (“Beneficiary”) by [Non-NAIC Approved Bank] for drawings up to United States $______________ effective immediately. This confirmation is issued, presentable and payable at the offices of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 S. Dearborn, 9th Floor, Suite IL1-0364, Chicago, IL 60603 to the attention of the standby letter of credit unit, or such other office in the United States of America, and expires with our close of business on _______________, 20__.
The term “Beneficiary” includes any successor by operation of law of the named Beneficiary including, without limitation, any liquidator, rehabilitator, receive or conservator.
We hereby undertake to promptly honor your sight draft(s) drawn as specified in the Letter of Credit on behalf of [Non-NAIC Approved Bank] and presented at the office specified in paragraph one on or before the expiry date of this confirmation or any automatically extended expiry date.
Except as expressly stated herein, this undertaking is not subject to any agreement, condition or qualification. The obligation of [NAIC Approved Bank] under this Confirmation is the individual obligation of [NAIC Approved Bank], and is in no way contingent upon reimbursement with respect thereto.
It is a condition of this Confirmation that it is deemed to be automatically extended without amendment for one year from the expiry date hereof, or any future expiration date, unless 60 days prior to any expiration date we shall notify you by registered mail that we elect not to consider this Confirmation renewed for any such additional period.
This Confirmation is subject to and governed by the laws of the State of New York and the 2007 revision of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits of the International Chamber of Commerce (Publication 600) and, in the event of any conflict, the laws of the State of New York will control.

Very truly yours,


_________________________




[NAIC Approved Bank]



Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Executive Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is effective as of November 5, 2018 (the “Effective Date”) and is by and between Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (the “Company” and, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, “Argo Group”) and Mark E. Watson III (“Executive”).

WHEREAS, Argo Group is an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in areas of the property and casualty market; and

WHEREAS, Argo Group offers a comprehensive line of products and services designed to meet the unique coverage and claims-handling needs of its clients; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ Executive as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to accept such continued employment as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual agreements herein set forth, intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1.
Employment Period . The period of employment of the Executive by the Company under this Agreement (the “Employment Period”) shall be deemed to have commenced on the Effective Date, and shall continue until December 31, 2023 (the “End Date”). Unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 6 of this Agreement, the Employment Period shall terminate on the End Date.

2.
Duties . The Executive agrees to serve the Company in the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and to perform diligently and to the best of his abilities the duties and services of that office. During the Employment Period, Executive shall perform the duties and services that the Company assigns or delegates to him from time to time. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty, fidelity and allegiance to act at all times in the best interests of Argo Group and further agrees not to engage or participate in any act that will or is reasonably likely to injure the business, interests, or reputation of Argo Group. Unless otherwise agreed to by the Company and the Executive, the Executive’s principal place of business with the Company shall be in Bermuda. Executive shall travel to such extent as may be required in connection with the performance of his duties.


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3.
Compensation .

(a)
Base Salary . Company shall pay Executive an annual salary of U.S. One Million Two Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($1,200,000.00) (“Base Salary”), less all applicable legal deductions and/or withholding. Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with Company’s policies or practices in effect from time to time, but in any event no less frequently than monthly. The Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Human Resources Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) for possible increase (but not decrease); the Human Resources Committee may, in its sole discretion, choose to increase the Base Salary during the Employment Period. If the Base Salary is increased by the Company, such Base Salary then constitutes the Base Salary for all purposes of this Agreement.

(b)
Annual Cash Incentive and Long-Term Incentive Awards . In addition to Base Salary, during the Employment Period, the Executive may, in the sole discretion of the Company from time to time, be eligible to earn annual cash incentive awards and long-term incentive awards contingent upon the achievement of specific objectives as established by the Company. Any annual cash incentive award and/or long-term incentive award shall be paid at the time the Company normally pays such bonuses or awards, and Executive is only entitled to receive any such annual cash incentive and/or long term incentive award if Executive is employed by Company at the payment date.

(c)
Benefits . As additional compensation for Executive, Company shall provide or maintain for Executive medical, welfare and health insurance benefit plans on the same terms and conditions as are made available to all Executives of the Company generally, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans as in effect from time to time.

4.
Vacation . Executive shall be entitled to Paid Time Off (“PTO”) during Executive’s employment under this Agreement, subject to Company’s paid time off policy as may be in effect from time to time.

5.
Reimbursement For Expenses . Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties during the Employment Period, provided that requests for reimbursement are submitted in accordance with Company’s policies and procedures as in effect from time to time. In no event shall expenses eligible for reimbursement be reimbursed later than December 31 of

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the year following the calendar year in which the Executive incurred the related expense. Any reimbursement in one calendar year may not affect the amount that may be reimbursed in any other calendar year and a right to reimbursement may not be exchanged or liquidated for another benefit or payment.

6.
Termination of Employment .

(a)
Death . This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the death of the Executive.

(b)
Disability . Subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and any similar state law that may apply, Company may terminate Executive’s employment and this Agreement if Company determines that Executive is physically or mentally impaired and unable to perform the essential functions of Executive’s job, with or without reasonable accommodation, during any “Disability Period,” defined as one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days or one hundred eighty (180) days in any twelve (12)-month period.

(c)
Termination by Company for Cause . Company may immediately terminate this Agreement and Executive’s employment with the Company upon written notice to Executive at any time for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” will exist if:

(i)
Executive materially and willfully breaches any provision of this Agreement and such breach has not been cured within thirty (30) days after the Company provides notice of the breach to the Executive; provided, however, if the act or omission that is the subject of such notice is substantially similar to an act or omission with respect to which the Executive has previously received notice and an opportunity to cure, then no additional notice is required and this Agreement may be terminated immediately upon the Company’s election and written notice to the Executive;

(ii)
Executive has committed any dishonest or disloyal act, or has engaged in misconduct or gross negligence in connection with Executive’s employment that has a material adverse effect on the operations or financial condition of the Company or Argo Group;

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(iii)
Executive is convicted of, or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or enters into an agreement for deferred adjudication, deferred prosecution, or other form of delayed disposition for (A) any felony or (B) a crime of moral turpitude which, in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Board, reflects in an adverse manner on the reputation of the Company;

(iv)
Executive has willfully engaged in conduct that violates Argo Group’s written policies (including, but not limited to, Argo Group’s Code of Conduct & Business Ethics) or is materially detrimental to the reputation, character or standing of, or otherwise is materially injurious to, Argo Group, monetarily or otherwise; or

(v)
without limiting the generality of Section 6(c)(i), Executive breaches, or takes any material step which, in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Board, is likely to result in the breach of, any of the provisions of Section 8.

Executive shall not be terminated for Cause (other than termination for a Cause event described in clause (iii) above) prior to being provided with a reasonable opportunity to be heard before the Board (with his counsel present if he so elects). No act or failure to act, on Executive’s part, shall be considered “willful” unless done or omitted to be done, by Executive, with knowledge and intent; provided that any unlawful act may not be considered in the Company’s best interest.

(d)
Termination by Company Without Cause . Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time, regardless of reason, by providing at least thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Executive.

(e)
Termination by Executive . Provided that the Executive is not in breach of this Agreement, Executive may terminate Executive’ employment at any time, regardless of reason, by providing at least thirty (30) days’ written notice to Company.

(f)
Termination by Executive with Good Reason . The Executive may terminate his employment with good reason by delivering written notice to the Company of the grounds for such termination within ninety (90) days after the Executive has actual knowledge or should reasonably have known of the occurrence, without the written

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consent of the Executive, of one of the following events (each event being referred to herein as “Good Reason”):
i.
(A) any change in the duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities, which change for purposes hereof shall include the Executive no longer reporting directly to a board of directors a majority of the members of whom are independent directors as defined in the listing requirements for the primary exchange on which the Company’s shares are listed) of the Executive that is inconsistent in any material adverse respect with the Executive’s position(s), duties, responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to such change (including any diminution of such duties or responsibilities) or (B) an adverse change in the Executive’s titles or offices (including, the failure of the Executive to be nominated for election to the Board at the expiration of the Executive’s current Board term (and each subsequent expiration of a Board term served by the Executive that occurs during the remainder of the Employment Period)) with the Company; it being understood that (i) if the Company is no longer the top entity in the Company’s organizational structure (e.g., a parent company is placed above the Company), the failure of the Company to continue the Executive as chief executive officer of the top entity in the Company’s organizational structure or (ii) any action by the Company or the Board which materially hinders Executive’s ability to perform his duties hereunder, shall, in each case, constitute Good Reason.
ii.
a reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary, target annual cash incentive opportunity or target long-term incentive opportunity when compared to the Executive’s Base Salary, target annual cash incentive opportunity or target long-term incentive opportunity, as applicable, for the prior year;
iii.
the relocation of the Company’s principal executive offices from Bermuda;
iv.
the failure of the Company to continue in effect any material employee benefit plan, compensation plan, welfare benefit plan or fringe benefit plan in which the Executive is participating immediately prior to the date of this Agreement or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect the Executive’s participation in or reduce the Executive’s benefits under any such plan, unless the Executive is permitted to participate in other plans providing the Executive with substantially equivalent benefits;

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v.
any refusal by the Company to continue to permit the Executive to engage in activities not directly related to the business of the Company which the Executive was permitted to engage in prior to the date of this Agreement;
vi.
the Company’s failure to provide in all material respects the indemnification set forth in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, or any other written agreement between the Executive and Company;
vii.
the failure of the Company to obtain the assumption agreement from any successor giving rise to a Change in Control (as defined in the Company’s 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan or any successor long-term incentive plan);
viii.
any other material breach of a provision of this Agreement by the Company.
For purposes of clauses (i) through (viii) above, an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action taken in good faith and which is remedied by the Company within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not constitute Good Reason. The Executive’s right to terminate employment with Good Reason shall not be affected by the Executive’s incapacity due to mental or physical illness and the Executive’s continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any event or condition constituting cause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in order for the Executive to terminate the Executive’s employment with Good Reason under the prevailing circumstances then constituting Good Reason hereunder, the Executive must terminate the Executive’s employment within thirty (30) days following the end of the Company’s cure period set forth above if the circumstances giving rise to Good Reason have not been cured.
7.
Effect of Termination . The termination of this Agreement shall not affect any rights of Executive that shall have accrued prior to the date of such termination.

(a)
Upon Death or Disability of the Executive .

(i)
During the Employment Period, if the Executive’s employment is terminated due to death, the Executive’s estate shall be entitled to receive (A) the Base Salary set forth in Section 3 accrued through the date Executive’s employment is terminated, (B) any amounts owing to Executive for reimbursement of expenses properly incurred by Executive prior to the date Executive’s employment is terminated and which are reimbursable in accordance with Section 5, (C) any other vested accrued benefits of Executive under the plans, programs and arrangements of the Company (items (A), (B) and (C), collectively, the “Accrued Benefits”), (D) any earned but unpaid

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annual cash incentive award for the year preceding the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated, and (E) any target annual cash incentive award for the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated; provided, that, such target annual cash incentive award shall be paid on the first day of the month coincident with or first following the thirtieth (30th) day following the date Executive’s employment is terminated.
(ii)
During the Employment Period, if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b) due to Disability, the Executive shall be entitled to receive (A) the Accrued Benefits, (B) any earned but unpaid annual cash incentive award for the year preceding the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated, and (C) any target annual cash incentive award for the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated; provided, that, such target annual cash incentive award shall be paid on the first day of the month coincident with or first following the thirtieth (30th) day following the date Executive’s employment is terminated.
(iii)
In the case of the Executive’s death or termination due to Disability, a surviving spouse of the Executive or the Executive, as applicable, shall be eligible for continuation of family health benefits pursuant to Section 3(c) subject to compliance with plan provisions at the active Executive rate for an eighteen month period after the date of the Executive’s death or termination due to Disability, as applicable (“Extended Health Benefits”); provided, however, that (A) such benefit continuation coverage shall be considered part of the benefit continuation coverage which the surviving spouse or Executive, as applicable, is entitled to receive under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), and (B) the surviving spouse or the Executive, as applicable, timely elects COBRA coverage.
(iv)
In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b) due to Disability, it shall be a condition precedent of receipt of Extended Health Benefits pursuant to Section 7(a)(iii) that: (A) within (90) days following the date of termination Executive (or his legal representative, if applicable) executes (and then with all revocation periods expired) a full and complete release of Argo Group in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Release”); and (B) the Executive remains in full compliance with Section 8. For clarity, if Executive revokes the Release or breaches any of his obligations under Section 8, the Company, in addition to all other remedies set forth in this Agreement, will have no further obligation to provide the Extended Health Benefits other than as required by COBRA.
(b)
By the Company Without Cause; By Employee with Good Reason . If this Agreement is terminated under Section 6(d) or (f) and the termination constitutes a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the US Internal Revenue Code

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of 1986 and any related regulations or other guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively “Section 409A”)):

(i)
The Executive shall be entitled to receive (A) the Accrued Benefits and (B) any earned but unpaid annual cash incentive award for the year preceding the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated;
(ii)
The Executive shall be entitled to receive any target annual cash incentive award for the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated; provided, that, such target annual cash incentive award shall be paid on the first day of the month coincident with or first following the sixtieth (60th) day following the date of termination; provided, further, that if the Employee is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), payment of such target annual cash incentive award may be subject to delay in accordance with Section 7(d);
(iii)
All unvested equity awards previously awarded to the Executive by the Company shall remain outstanding, shall continue to vest and shall be paid or settled in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreements as if no termination had occurred and the Executive had remained employed by the Company through the applicable vesting date, with the vesting of any outstanding performance-based equity awards to be determined based on actual performance through the end of the applicable performance period. All outstanding, unvested stock options shall remain exercisable for a period of 12 months following the last vesting date of the stock option, but not beyond the original term of the stock option. In the event of Executive’s involuntary termination of employment or termination for Good Reason in each case within two years following a Change in Control, all outstanding unvested equity awards shall immediately become vested upon the date of such termination of employment.
(iv)
The Company shall pay the Executive an aggregate amount equal to 2 times the sum of (A) his Base Salary and (B) his target annual cash incentive award for the year in which his employment is terminated (or, if a target annual cash incentive award has not been established for Executive for such year as of the date his employment is terminated, his target annual cash incentive award for the year prior to the year in which his employment is terminated), payable in a single lump sum payment (“Severance Pay”); provided, however, that such severance payment shall be paid on the first day of the month coincident with or first following the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of termination; and provided, further, that if the Employee is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) and any such payment is scheduled to be paid after March 15 of the year following

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termination of employment, the payment of severance may be further delayed as described in Section 7(d);
(v)
The Executive shall be eligible for continuation of health benefits pursuant to Section 3(c) (subject to compliance with the applicable plan provisions) at the active Executive rate until the Executive obtains reasonably equivalent coverage or for eighteen (18) months from the date of termination, whichever is earlier (“Severance Benefits”); provided, however, that (A) such benefit continuation coverage shall be considered part of the benefit continuation coverage which the Executive is entitled to receive under COBRA, and (B) the Executive timely elects COBRA coverage;
(vi)
It shall be a condition precedent of payment or provision to the Executive of Severance Pay or Severance Benefits pursuant to this Section 7(b) that: (A) within thirty (30) days following the date of termination Executive executes (and then with all revocation periods expired) a full and complete release in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Release”); and (B) the Executive remains in full compliance with Section 8. For clarity, if Executive revokes the Release or breaches in any material respect any of his obligations under Section 8, which breach is not cured within thirty (30) days following written notice from Company, Company, in addition to all other remedies set forth in this Agreement, will have no further obligation to pay Severance Pay or Severance Benefits and will be entitled to all other remedies set forth in this Agreement;
(vii)
Except as provided for in this Section 7(b), the Executive shall not have any rights that have not previously accrued upon termination of this Agreement.
(c)
By Company for Cause; By Executive; Expiration of this Agreement . If Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(c) or Section 6(e) or upon the expiration of this Agreement on the End Date, Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Benefits and Executive shall not be entitled to any other benefits (unless otherwise required by law). Upon the expiration of this Agreement on the End Date, (i) all unvested equity awards previously awarded to Executive by the Company shall remain outstanding, shall continue to vest and shall be paid or settled in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreements as if no termination had occurred and the Executive had remained employed by the Company through the applicable vesting date, with the vesting of any outstanding performance-based equity awards to be determined based on actual performance through the end of the applicable performance period, (ii) all outstanding, unvested stock options shall remain exercisable for a period of 12 months following the last vesting date of the stock option, but not beyond the original term of the stock option, and (iii) the Executive shall be entitled to receive the bonus that would have been awarded in

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respect of the 2023 performance year based on actual performance had Executive remained in employment through the payment date for such bonus award.
 
(d)
Six-Month Delay . Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) at the time of the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) and if any portion of the payments or benefits to be received by the Executive upon the Executive’s separation from service would be considered deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, then each portion of such payments and benefits that would otherwise be payable or provided shall instead be paid or made available to Executive (or his estate if applicable) on the first regular payroll date following the six month anniversary of the Executive’s separation from service or, if earlier, the date of his death.

(e)
Excise Taxes . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any portion of the payments and benefits provided under Section 7 of this Agreement, either alone or together with other payments and benefits which the Executive receives or is then entitled to receive from the Company or its affiliates, or any successor (in the aggregate, “Total Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by section 4999 of the Code, or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any interest or penalties thereon, is herein referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then, except as otherwise provided in the next sentence, such Total Payments shall be reduced to the extent the Independent Tax Counsel shall determine is necessary (but not below zero) so that no portion thereof shall be subject to the Excise Tax. If Independent Tax Counsel determines that the Executive would receive in the aggregate greater payments and benefits on an after tax basis if the Total Payments were not reduced pursuant to this Section 7(e), then no such reduction shall be made. For purposes of determining the after tax benefit to the Executive, the Executive’s estimated actual blended marginal rate of federal, state and local income taxation in the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs shall be utilized. Such marginal rate shall be determined by taking into account (A) the estimated actual net effect on the marginal rate attributable to the deduction of state and local income taxes, (B) the phase out, if any, of itemized deductions, (C) the estimated actual net tax rate attributable to employment taxes, and (D) any other tax provision that in the judgment of the Independent Tax Counsel will actually affect the Executive’s estimated actual blended marginal tax rate. The determination of which payments or benefits shall be reduced to avoid the Excise Tax shall be made by the Independent Tax Counsel, provided that the Independent Tax Counsel shall

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reduce or eliminate, as the case may be, payments or benefits in the order that it determines will produce the required deduction in Total Payments with the least reduction in the after-tax economic value to the Executive of such payments. If the after-tax economic value of any payments is equivalent, such payments shall be reduced in the inverse order of when the payments would have been made to the Executive until the reduction specified herein is achieved. The Independent Tax Counsel shall make a determination as to whether any reasonable compensation value can be ascribed to any non-competition covenants that are applicable to Executive, and shall factor in any such value in making its determination as to whether the Total Payments would be subject to the excise tax imposed by section 4999 of the Code. The Independent Tax Counsel shall provide its determination, together with detailed supporting calculations and documentation to the Company and the Executive within ten (10) days of the Termination Date. The determination of the Independent Tax Counsel under this Section 7(e) shall be final and binding on all parties hereto. For purposes of this Section 7(e), “Independent Tax Counsel” shall mean a lawyer, a certified public accountant with a nationally recognized accounting firm, or a compensation consultant with a nationally recognized actuarial and benefits consulting firm with expertise in the area of executive compensation tax law, who shall be selected by the Company and shall be acceptable to the Executive (the Executive’s acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld), and whose fees and disbursements shall be paid by the Company.

8.
Confidentiality and Covenants .

(a)
Definitions . For the purposes of this Section 8, the following words have the following meanings:
(i)
“Company Group” means, individually and collectively, (A) the Company; (B) any entity within Argo Group for which the Executive performs duties pursuant to this Agreement; and (C) any entity within Argo Group in relation to which the Executive has, in the course of his employment, (1) acquired knowledge of Argo Group’s trade secrets or Confidential Information (defined below), (2) had material dealings with Argo Group’s Customers or Prospective Customers, or (3) supervised directly or indirectly any employee having material dealings with Argo Group’s Customers or Prospective Customers.
(ii)
“Company Services” means any services (including but not limited to technical and product support, technical advice, underwriting and customer services) supplied by Company Group.

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(iii)
“Customer” means any Person to whom or which Company Group supplied Company Services and with whom or which: (A) Executive had dealings pursuant to his employment, or (B) any employee who was under the direct or indirect supervision of the Executive had dealings pursuant to his or her employment, or (C) Executive was responsible in a client management capacity on behalf of the Company.
(iv)
“Person” means any individual, firm, company, corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company or other entity of any kind.
(v)
“Prospective Customer” means any Person with whom or which Company Group shall have had negotiations or material discussions regarding the possible distribution, sale or supply of Company Services and with whom or which: (A) Executive shall have had dealings pursuant to his employment, or (B) any employee who was under the direct supervision of Executive shall have had dealings pursuant to his or her employment, or (C) Executive was responsible in a client management capacity on behalf of the Company.
(vi)
“Restricted Area” means: (A) the United States, and (B) any other geographic area in which Company Group provides Restricted Services and in which Executive participates, directly or indirectly, in the course of performing his duties for Argo Group during the 12 months preceding the date of Executive’s termination of employment.
(vii)
“Restricted Employee” means any Person who, on the date of the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, was employed by Argo Group at the level of director, manager, underwriter or salesperson and with whom the Executive had material contact or dealings in the course of his employment;
(viii)
“Restricted Services” means Company Services or any services of the substantially similar kind.
(b)
Acknowledgement .
(i)
The Executive acknowledges that, during his employment, Argo Group will disclose to Executive, or place Executive in a position to access or develop trade secrets or Confidential Information (defined in Section 8(c)) belonging to Argo Group; and/or will entrust the Executive with business opportunities of Argo Group; and/or will place the Executive in a position to develop good will on behalf of Argo Group. The Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information, business opportunities and good will of Argo Group are of competitive value and could be used to the competitive and financial detriment of Argo Group if misused or disclosed by the Executive. Argo Group will permit Executive to have access to Confidential

12
 

Information, business opportunities and goodwill only in return for the Executive’s promises in Section 8 of this Agreement. The Executive therefore agrees that the obligations and restrictions set out in Section 8 are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of Argo Group, both during and after the termination of his employment.
(ii)
If, during the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive creates any work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression that is the subject matter of copyright (such as video tapes, written presentations, or acquisitions, computer programs, e-mail, voice mail, electronic data bases, drawings, maps, architectural renditions, models, manuals, brochures or the like) relating to Company Group’s business, products or services, whether such work is created solely by the Executive or jointly with others (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on Argo Group’s premises or otherwise), Company Group shall be deemed the author of such work if the work is prepared by the Executive in the scope of the Executive’s employment.
(c)
Confidential Information .
(i)
Executive understands and agrees that all records, whether original, duplicated, computerized, memorized, handwritten, or in any other form, and all information contained therein, relating to the past, current or prospective business of Argo Group, and/or relating to Customers and/or Prospective Customers, that provide Argo Group with a competitive advantage and that are not known to the general public are proprietary, confidential and constitute trade secrets, regardless of whether such records or information were generated and/or obtained by Executive, Argo Group, and/or a third party, including without limitation: (a) Customer and Prospective Customer information such as contact information, account or policy information, purchasing information, insurance and/or reinsurance needs, underwriting, financial and pricing information; (b) any plans, formulas, products, trade secrets, sales, marketing, merchandising or underwriting information or strategies, product information, or confidential material or information and instructions, technical or otherwise, issued or published for the use of Argo Group; and (c) any information concerning the present or future business, processes, or methods or manner of operation of Argo Group, accomplishing the business undertaken by Argo Group, or concerning improvement, inventions or know how relating to the same or any part thereof (collectively, “Confidential Information”).
(ii)
Executive acknowledges that, during his employment, Executive will occupy a position of trust and confidence as regards Company Group and therefore agrees that he shall treat as confidential and, except as expressly required in the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement, shall not use

13
 

for Executive’s own benefit or disclose (or permit or cause the disclosure of) to any Person, directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information unless such use or disclosure has been specifically authorized in writing by Company Group in advance. It is the intent of Company Group, with which intent Executive hereby agrees, to restrict Executive from disseminating or using for Executive’s own benefit any information belonging directly or indirectly to Argo Group that is unpublished, not readily available to the general public or within Argo Group’s industry and that could be detrimental to Argo Group if so used or disclosed.
(iii)
Executive understands that Confidential Information is entrusted to Executive solely due to Executive’s affiliation with Argo Group. Confidential Information is extremely valuable to Argo Group and Executive acknowledges, understands and agrees Argo Group takes reasonable measures to maintain its confidentiality and to guard its secrecy. This information is developed and acquired by expenditures of time, effort and money and provides Argo Group with a competitive advantage. Executive agrees that Confidential Information is the property of Argo Group and is deserving of trade secret status and protection.
(iv)
Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive (or Executive’s heirs or personal representatives) shall immediately deliver to the Company: (i) all documents and materials containing Confidential Information (including without limitation any copies, summaries or computerized or electronic versions thereof); (ii) all documents and materials which otherwise contain information relating to the business and affairs of Argo Group (whether or not confidential); and (iii) all other documents, materials and other property belonging to Argo Group that are in the possession or under the control of Executive. Executive shall permit Argo Group to inspect, prior to removal, any and all materials to be taken from Argo Group’s offices and shall surrender and provide to Argo Group any electronic device (including but not limited to any computer, handheld device, mobile telephone or similar device) used to conduct business while employed by Company (whether owned by Argo Group or Executive) for the purpose of inspecting such device and removing all Confidential Information.
(v)
In the event that Executive becomes legally compelled to disclose any Confidential Information, Executive shall provide the Company prompt notice before such Confidential Information is disclosed so that the Company may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy and/or waive compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. Executive will exercise Executive’s best efforts to assist the Company in obtaining such a protective order or other appropriate remedy. In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained, Executive will furnish only that portion of the

14
 

Confidential Information which Executive is advised by written reasonable opinion of counsel is legally required.
(vi)
All information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Executive, individually or in conjunction with others, during Executive’s employment with the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the premises of Argo Group or otherwise) that relate to the business, products or services of Company Group shall be disclosed to the Board and are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company Group. Moreover, all documents, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, e-mail, voice mail, electronic data bases, maps and all other writings and materials of any type embodying any such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries and inventions are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company Group. Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive promptly shall deliver the same, and all copies thereof, to Company Group.
(vii)
Nothing contained herein shall prohibit Executive from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, any Inspector General, or making other disclosures protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to make any such reports or disclosures and Executive is not required to notify the Company that Executive has made such reports or disclosures.
(viii)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contain herein, the parties hereto acknowledge that pursuant to 18 USC § 1833(b), Executive may not be held liable under any criminal or civil federal or state trade secret law for disclosure of a trade secret: (A) made in confidence to a government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law or (B) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Additionally, the parties hereto acknowledge that if Executive sues the Company for retaliation based on the reporting of a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose a trade secret to Executive’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, so long as any document containing the trade secret is filed under seal and Executive does not disclose the trade secret except pursuant to court order.

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(ix)
Executive may also disclose Confidential Information to the minimum extent necessary to enforce the terms of this Agreement in any legal proceeding concerning Executive’s rights or obligations hereunder.
(d)
Restrictive Covenant . Other than for or on behalf of Argo Group, Executive agrees that Executive shall not (whether by Executive, through Executive’s employers or employees or agents or otherwise, and whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person, firm, company or other organization) during Executive’s employment with the Company and for the period of 12 months after Executive ceases to be employed by the Company, directly or indirectly:
(i)
contact or solicit any Customer or Prospective Customer with respect to Restricted Services, or endeavor to entice away from Company Group any Customer or Prospective Customer;
(ii)
accept orders or facilitate the acceptance of any orders, or have any business dealings for, Restricted Services from any Customer or Prospective Customer;
(iii)
contact, solicit or induce, or endeavor to solicit or induce any Restricted Employee to cease working for or providing services to Argo Group, or hire any Restricted Employee;
(iv)
employ or otherwise engage for the purpose of researching into, developing, distributing, selling, supplying or otherwise dealing with Restricted Services, any Person who is or was employed or engaged by Company Group and who, by reason of such employment or engagement, is reasonably likely to be in possession of any Argo Group trade secrets or Confidential Information.
(e)
Non-Competition Requirement(s) . Executive agrees that, during Executive’s employment with the Company, other than for or on behalf of Argo Group, Executive shall not (whether by himself, through his employers or employees or agents or otherwise, and whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other Person), directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, control, make loans or advances to, be employed by, act as an officer, director, agent or consultant for, or be in any other way connected with or provide services to or for, any Person: (a) engaged in the property and/or casualty insurance and/or reinsurance business; and/or (b) that offers products or services competitive with the products or services offered by Argo Group, or that otherwise competes with Argo Group (“Non-Competition Requirement”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may (i) acquire up to 3% of the voting securities of any publicly traded entity and (ii) make passive investments in private equity, hedge and mutual funds or similar investment vehicles.
Executive further agrees that he shall not (whether by himself, through his employers or employees or agents or otherwise, and whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other Person), directly or indirectly, for a period of 12 months after Executive

16
 

ceases to be employed by the Company, own, manage, operate, control, make loans or advances to, be employed by, act as an officer, director, agent or consultant for, or be in any other way connected with or provide services to or for, any Person in the business of researching, developing, underwriting, distributing, selling, supplying, or otherwise dealing with Restricted Services in the Restricted Area (“Post-Employment Non-Competition Requirement”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may become employed by an entity that provides Restricted Services (whether or not in the Restricted Area); provided, that, the Executive may not serve as the chief executive officer of any such entity; provided, further, that, the Executive does not work in, or have supervisory authority over, a business unit of such entity that provides such Restricted Services in the Restricted Area and does not have any professional communication with anyone employed in such business unit.
(f)
Notice of Subsequent Employment or Engagement . Executive agrees that during the 12 months following the date of termination of his employment, Executive shall inform the Company, prior to the commencement of employment or any work as an independent contractor, of the identity of any new employer or other entity to which Executive plans to provide consulting or other services, along with Executive’s starting date, title, job description and any other information which the Company may reasonably request (and which does not violate any confidentiality obligation of the Executive) to confirm Executive’s compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
(g)
Non-Disparagement . Executive shall not, at any time during the Employment Period and thereafter, make statements or representations, or otherwise communicate, directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or otherwise, or take any action which is reasonably likely to be, directly or indirectly, disparaging or be damaging to the Company, or its subsidiaries, or their respective officers, directors, employees, advisors, businesses or reputations. Neither the Company in any formal statement nor the members of the Board and executive officers of the Company shall, at any time during the Employment Period and thereafter, make statements or representations, or otherwise communicate, directly or indirectly, in writing, orally or otherwise, or take any action which is reasonably likely to be, directly or indirectly, disparaging or be damaging to Executive or Executive’s reputation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude Executive or such members of the Board or executive officers from making truthful statements that are required by applicable law, regulation or legal process, including truthful statements in connection with an action, suit or other proceeding to enforce Executive’s or the Company’s respective rights under this Agreement.
(h)
Cooperation . The parties hereto agree that certain matters in which Executive will be involved during the Employment Period may necessitate Executive’s cooperation in the future. Accordingly, following the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, to the extent reasonably requested by the Company, Executive shall

17
 

cooperate with the Company and its counsel, including with information requests relating to the business or affairs of the Company, as well as any investigation, litigation, arbitration or other proceeding relating to the business or affairs of the Company, other than in connection with any dispute between Executive and the Company; provided that, the Company shall make reasonable efforts to minimize disruption of Executive’s business, employment or personal affairs, including limiting Executive’s travel to the extent reasonably possible. The cooperation includes Executive making Executive available for reasonable periods of time (with due regard for Executive’s other commitments) upon reasonable notice to Executive in any such litigation or investigation and providing testimony before or during such litigation or investigation. The Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with such cooperation (including legal counsel selected by Executive and reasonably acceptable to the Company); provided that, if the Company requires Executive to devote significant time to such cooperation, the Company and Executive will establish in good faith a reasonable hourly or daily rate for the time spent by Executive on such cooperation, based on Executive’s Base Salary as of Executive’s termination date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive will have no obligation to cooperate against his own legal interests or that of any then current future employer.
(i)
This Section 8 shall be for the benefit of Argo Group and the Company reserves the right to assign the benefit of such provisions to any entity within Argo Group. The obligations undertaken by the Executive pursuant to this Section 8 shall, with respect to each entity within Argo Group, constitute separate and distinct obligations and covenants and the invalidity or unenforceability of any such obligation or covenant shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the obligations or covenants in favor of any other entity within Argo Group.
(j)
Section 8 shall survive the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company and the termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason.
While the restrictions and obligations in Section 8 (on which the Executive has had the opportunity to take independent advice, as the Executive hereby acknowledges) are considered by the parties to be reasonable in all circumstances, if any portion(s) of Section 8 shall be adjudged to be illegal, void, unenforceable, overly broad (including as to time, scope or geography) or otherwise beyond what is reasonable in all the circumstances for the protection of the legitimate interests of Argo Group, any such portion(s) of Section 8 shall be reformed to ensure the enforceability of Section 8 to the fullest extent possible or if reformation of such portion(s) is deemed impossible then such portions of Section 8 shall be severed from this Agreement, but the remainder of Section 8 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
9.
Remedies for Breach . In addition to the rights and remedies otherwise provided in this Agreement, and without waiving the same, if Executive breaches, or takes any material step which, in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Board, is likely to result in the breach

18
 

of, any of the provisions of Section 8, Executive agrees that the Company shall have the following rights and remedies, in addition to any others, each of which shall be independent of the other and severally enforceable:

(a)
The right and remedy to have such provisions specifically enforced by a court and/or arbitrator(s) having equitable jurisdiction. Executive specifically acknowledges and agrees that if Executive breaches, or takes any material step which, in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Board, is likely to result in the breach of, any of the provisions of Section 8 hereof, it may cause substantial irreparable injury to Argo Group and that money damages may not provide an adequate remedy to Argo Group, and that Argo Group will be entitled to appropriate equitable relief, including but not limited to a temporary restraining order or temporary or permanent injunctive relief. Such equitable relief shall be available without posting of any bond or other security.

(b)
The right to require Executive to account for and pay over to Company all compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other benefits (hereinafter collectively the “Benefits”) derived or received by the Executive as a result of any conduct, activities, transactions and/or other provision of services constituting a breach of any of the provisions of Section 8.

(c)
Upon discovery by Company of a breach by Executive of, or a material step taken by Executive which, in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Board, is likely to result in the breach of, any of the provisions Section 8, the right, subject to notice to Executive of the alleged breach or material step taken and any cure efforts by the Executive in accordance with this Agreement, to immediately suspend any payments or benefits to Executive under Sections 3 or 7 pending a resolution of the dispute.

(d)
The right to terminate Executive’s employment for Cause pursuant to Section 6(c), subject to Executive’s right to timely cure.

(e)
If Executive is determined to have breached any provisions of Section 8, the court or arbitrator shall extend the effect of those provisions of the Section for an amount of time equal to the time Executive was in breach thereof unless the Company was aware of the breach at the time that it occurred and failed to notify the Executive of the alleged breach or otherwise failed to address the breach in any capacity.

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10.
Successors and Assigns . This Agreement is personal in its nature and Executive cannot assign it without Company’s written consent. Company may assign this Agreement to any successor in interest and/or to Argo Group.

11.
Notices . Any notice required or permitted to be given to Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be sufficiently given if sent to Executive by registered or certified mail addressed to Executive at 110 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08 Bermuda, or at such other address as Executive shall designate by written notice to the Company, and any notice required or permitted to be given to the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be sufficiently given if sent to the Company by registered or certified mail addressed to it at 110 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08 Bermuda, Attn: General Counsel, or at such other address as it shall designate by notice to Executive.

12.
Invalid Provisions . The invalidity or unenforceability of a particular provision of this Agreement shall not affect the enforceability of any other provisions hereof and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

13.
Amendment . This Agreement may only be amended in writing by an agreement executed by both parties hereto.

14.
Entire Agreement . This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties regarding the subject matter contained herein and supersedes any and all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, as well as the negotiations between said parties. The parties further agree that this Agreement shall supersede and replace in its entirety the Executive Employment Agreement, effective as of November 5, 2013, between the Executive and the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, if Executive becomes entitled to receive the payments and benefits provided for in Section 7(a) or Section 7(b) hereof, as applicable, such payments and benefits shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, any payments or benefits to which Executive may otherwise be or become entitled under any Company severance plan, policy or program.
 
15.
Arbitration .
(a)
Any claim or controversy arising between Executive and the Company and/or Argo Group, shall be settled by final and binding arbitration in Bexar County, Texas.

20
 

(b)
Disputes that must be arbitrated under this Agreement shall include all statutory, contractual, and common law claims and controversies between Executive and Argo Group including, without limitation, controversies concerning the construction, performance or breach of this Agreement or any other agreement between the Company and Executive, whether entered into prior, on or subsequent to the date hereof, claims arising out of or relating to Executive’s hiring, employment, or termination of employment, and claims of workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Workers’ compensation claims (except any claim asserted pursuant to Tex. Labor Code §451 or any successor provision), claims for unemployment benefits and claims based upon any Company’s benefit plans containing a different final and binding dispute procedure are excluded from arbitration.
(c)
This Section 15 and any arbitration hereunder are subject to and controlled by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §1, et seq . (“FAA”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that all questions of arbitrability will be submitted to the arbitrator. Additionally, in the event that the FAA is deemed not to apply, the parties agree that any review of the arbitration award shall be strictly limited to the bases provided for under the FAA.
(d)
Submission to arbitration pursuant to this Section 15 may be compelled by any court located in Bexar County, Texas. The parties agree to submit to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the courts in Bexar County, Texas for purpose of this Subsection 15(d).
(e)
Any party may, without waiving any other rights and remedies under this Agreement, apply to any court located in Bexar County, Texas, to seek any interim or preliminary injunctive relief that is necessary to protect the rights or property of that party, pending the arbitrator’s award or resolution of the controversy. The parties agree to submit to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the courts in Bexar County, Texas for purpose of this Subsection 15(e).

(f)
The arbitration proceedings under this Section 15 shall be before a single arbitrator and conducted in accordance with the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA) National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes in effect at the time the demand for arbitration is made, which are incorporated herein and are available through the AAA’s website (http://www.adr.org) or the Company’s Human Resource Department, except to the extent they conflict with the specific provisions of this Agreement.

(g)
The arbitrator may award reasonable attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party if such an award would be permitted under the law governing the claim(s) involved.
(h)
The arbitration award may be specifically enforced by any party in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(i)
The parties acknowledge, understand and agree that:
(i)
Each party has had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel regarding this Section 15;

21
 

(ii)
By agreeing to arbitrate, the parties give up their rights to sue each other in a court of law and to have a trial by jury;
(iii)
Arbitration awards are final and binding and a parties’ ability to have a court reverse or modify an arbitration award is very limited, as envisioned by and provided for in the FAA;
(iv)
The ability of the parties to conduct discovery (e.g., the ability of the parties to obtain documents, interrogatory answers and witness statements) is within the discretion of the arbitrator and may be more limited than and different from discovery in court proceedings;
(v)
The arbitrator’s award is not required to include factual findings or legal reasoning or otherwise explain the bases for the award;
(vi)
The time limits for bringing a claim and other proceedings in arbitration may be different from the time limits imposed by courts;
(vii)
Each party may be represented by an attorney during the arbitration proceedings;
(viii)
Executive is still protected by all applicable employment laws, and does not give up any substantive rights to recover damages; and
(ix)
This Section 15 survives the termination of Executive’s employment and the termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason.
16.
Applicable Law . This Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for all purposes, by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

17.
Jurisdiction and Venue . The parties agree that any dispute between the parties that is determined to be not subject to arbitration pursuant to Section 15 shall be subject to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the District Courts in Bexar County, Texas.

18.
No Waiver . Company’s or Executive’s failure at any time to give notice of any breach by the other party of, or to require compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

19.
Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is adjudged to be invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision shall not affect the validity or

22
 

unenforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and the provision shall be reformed to the fullest extent possible or if reformation of such provision is deemed impossible such provision shall be severed from this Agreement, but the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

20.
Section 409A and 457A Compliance . To the extent applicable, this Agreement is intended to meet the requirements of Section 409A and 457A of the Code, and shall be interpreted and construed consistent with that intent. For purposes of this Agreement, each payment under this Agreement shall be considered a “separate payment” and not as part of a series of payments for purposes of Section 409A.

21.
Withholding of Taxes and Other Executive Deductions . Company may withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement all federal, state, city and other taxes as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and any and all other normal Executive deductions made with respect to the Company’s Executives generally.

22.
Indemnification . The Executive shall be fully indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and by the Company’s by-laws for his services hereunder and shall be covered by directors’ and officers’ liability or other third-party insurance on a basis no less favorable than other directors and officers of the Company are so provided, including with respect to any “tail” coverage.

23.
Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one in the same agreement.

24.
Clawback . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, any portion of the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement, as well as any other payments and benefits which the Employee receives pursuant to a Company plan or other arrangement, shall be subject to a clawback to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or any Securities and Exchange Commission rule.

23
 

EXECUTIVE UNDERSTANDS, ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15, THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO MANDATORY ARBITRATION AND THAT EXECUTIVE IS AGREEING IN ADVANCE TO ARBITRATE ANY CONTROVERSIES WHICH ARISE WITH ARGO GROUP IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OUTLINED THEREIN.

In witness whereof, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year above written.


ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL            EXECUTIVE:
HOLDINGS, LTD.


By: /s/ John R. Power, Jr.                  /s/ Mark E. Watson III        
John R. Power, Jr., Chairman            Mark E. Watson III
Human Resources Committee,
Board of Directors of
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.

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EXHIBIT A
GENERAL RELEASE

Argonaut Group International Holdings, Ltd. (“Company”) and I, Mark E. Watson III, agree as follows:
I. Complete Release

A.
In General : Pursuant to the requirements of Section 7 of my Executive Employment Agreement with the Company, dated November 5, 2018 (the “Executive Employment Agreement”), and as consideration for the termination benefits contained therein, I hereby agree to irrevocably and unconditionally release any and all Claims I may now have against the Company and other parties as set forth in this Section I.

B.
Released Parties : The Released Parties are the “Argo Group” entities, as defined in the Executive Employment Agreement, which include Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. and all of its subsidiary holding and operating companies, and, with respect to each of them, their predecessors and successors; and, with respect to each such entity, all of its past, present and future employees, officers, directors, stockholders, owners, representatives, assigns, attorneys, agents, insurers, employee benefit programs (and the trustees, administrators, fiduciaries, and insurers of such programs); and any other persons acting by, through, under or in concert with any of the persons or entities listed in this subsection (the “Released Parties” and each a “Released Party”).

C.
Claims Released : I understand and agree that I am releasing all known and unknown claims, demands, promises, causes of action and rights of any type that I may have had or currently have (the “Claims”) against each and every Released Party based on, relating to, or arising out of any fact, act, omission, event, conduct, representation, agreement or other matter whatsoever relating to my employment with the Company and termination of such employment , except that I am not releasing any claim to enforce: (i) this Agreement; (ii) any right, if any, to claim government-provided unemployment benefits;(iii) any rights or claims that wholly arise or accrue after I sign this Agreement; (iv) any right to vested accrued benefits or compensation under Company plans and arrangements; and (v) any right to indemnification by the Company or any of the Released Parties or to coverage under any applicable directors’ and officers’ or other third party liability insurance policy(ies) then maintained by the Company or any Released Parties . I further understand

25
 

that the Claims I am releasing may arise under many different laws (including statutes, regulations, other administrative guidance and common law doctrines) including but by no means limited to:

1.
Anti-discrimination statutes , all as amended, such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”), and Executive Order 11141, which prohibit age discrimination in employment; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and Executive Order 11246, which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, or sex; the Equal Pay Act, which prohibits paying men and women unequal pay for equal work; the Americans With Disabilities Act and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibit discrimination based on disability; and any other federal, state or local laws prohibiting employment or wage discrimination, including the laws of Bermuda, including but not limited to the Employment Act of 2000 and the Human Rights Act of 1981.

2.
Federal employment statutes , all as amended, such as the WARN Act, which requires that advance notice be given of certain work force reductions; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, which, among other things, protects employee benefits; the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and laws which regulate wage and hour matters; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, which requires employers to provide leaves of absence under certain circumstances; and any other federal laws relating to employment, such as veterans’ reemployment rights laws.

3.
Other laws , as amended, such as any federal, state or local laws providing workers’ compensation benefits (or prohibiting workers’ compensation retaliation), restricting an employer’s right to terminate employees or otherwise regulating employment; any federal, state or local law enforcing express or implied employment contracts or requiring an employer to deal with employees fairly or in good faith.

4.
Tort and contract claims , such as claims for wrongful discharge, negligence, negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent retention, physical or personal injury, emotional distress, fraud, fraud in the inducement, negligent misrepresentation, defamation, invasion of privacy, interference with contract or with prospective economic advantage, breach of express or implied contract, breach of covenants of good faith and fair dealing, promissory estoppel, and similar or related claims.


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5.
Examples of released Claims include, but are not limited to: (i) Claims that in any way relate to my employment with the Company or any other Released Party, or the termination of that employment, such as Claims for compensation, bonuses, commissions, lost wages or unused accrued vacation or sick pay; (ii) Claims that in any way relate to the design or administration of any employee benefit program; (iii) Claims that I have irrevocable or vested rights to severance or similar benefits or to post-employment health or group insurance benefits; or (iv) any Claims to attorneys’ fees or other indemnities.

D.
Unknown Claims : I understand that I am releasing Claims about which I may be unaware. That is my knowing and voluntary intent, even though I recognize that someday I might learn that some or all of the facts I currently believe to be true are untrue or learn of facts or other matters about which I now am unaware, and even though I might then regret having signed this Release. Nevertheless, I am assuming that risk and I agree that this Agreement shall remain effective in all respects in any such case. I expressly waive all rights I might have under any law that is intended to protect me from waiving unknown claims. I understand the significance of doing so.

II. Promises, Warranties, And Representations

A.
Employment Termination: I understand and agree that my employment with the Company terminated on ____________________. I also understand and agree that I have no right of rehire or reinstatement with any Released Party, regardless of location, and that each and every Released Party is under no obligation to rehire or reinstate me. I also acknowledge and understand that the failure of a Released Party to rehire or reinstate me is in no way discriminatory or retaliatory in nature.

B.
Pursuit of Released Claims : I affirm that I have not filed, have not caused to be filed, and am not presently party to, any actions, grievances, arbitrations, complaints, claims or other legal proceedings against or relating to any Released Party in any forum. To the extent permitted by law, I agree not to, directly or indirectly, file, initiate, encourage, aid or assist in any investigations, actions, grievances, arbitrations, complaints, claims or other legal proceedings against or relating to any Released Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I understand that nothing in this General Release prohibits me from: (i) challenging the knowing and voluntary nature of the release of ADEA claims pursuant to the OWBPA; or (ii) making or asserting: (A) any claim or right which cannot be waived under applicable law, including but not limited to the right to file a charge with, provide information to or participate in an investigation or proceeding conducted by the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other federal, local or state governmental agency charged with enforcing anti-discrimination laws,

27
 

or the National Labor Relations Board; (B) any right I have to any payments pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Executive Employment Agreement; (C) any right I have to accrued benefits (within the meaning of Sections 203 and 204 of the Employee Retirement Income Securities Act of 1974, as amended); and (D) any rights I have or claims that may arise after the date this General Release is executed. I further agree and covenant that should any person, entity, organization, or federal, state or local governmental agency institute an investigation, action, grievance, arbitration, complaint, claim or other legal proceeding involving any matter encompassed by the release set forth in Section 1, I shall not be entitled to recover and expressly waive any right to seek, accept or recover any monetary relief or other individual remedies.

C.
Execution of this Agreement: I understand and agree that, but for my execution of this General Release, including claims under the ADEA, and the fulfillment of the promises contained therein, I would not be entitled to receive the benefit continuation coverage or severance pay described in Section 7(b) of the Executive Employment Agreement.

D.
Company Property : Before accepting any monetary payments from the Company, I promise to comply with my obligation under Sections 8(c)(iv) and 8(c)(vi) of the Executive Employment Agreement.

E.
Taxes : I am responsible for paying any taxes on amounts I receive because I signed this Release. I agree that the Company may withhold all taxes it determines it is legally required to withhold.

F.
Ownership of Claims : I have not assigned or transferred any Claim I am releasing, nor have I purported to do so. In addition to any other remedies, rights or defenses that may be available to the Released Parties by virtue of this General Release or my breach hereof, I will pay the reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses and any damages the Released Parties incur as a result of my breach of this representation or if this representation was false when made.

G.
Implementation : I agree to sign any documents and do anything else that is necessary in the future to implement this Agreement.


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III. Miscellaneous

A.
Entire Agreement : This is the entire agreement between me and the Company with respect to my release of Claims against the Company. This Agreement may not be modified or canceled in any manner except by a writing signed by both me and an authorized Company official with reference to this Agreement. I acknowledge that I have not relied on any representations, promises, or agreements of any kind made to me in connection with my decision to accept this General Release, except for those set forth in this General Release and my Executive Employment Agreement.

B.
Successors : This Agreement binds my heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors and assigns, and will inure to the benefit of all Released Parties and their respective heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors and assigns.

C.
Interpretation : This Agreement shall be construed as a whole according to its fair meaning. It shall not be construed strictly for or against me or any Released Party. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the singular or plural shall be deemed to include the other. Captions are intended solely for convenience of reference and shall not be used in the interpretation of this Release.

D.
Governing Law, Mandatory Arbitration and Venue: This Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for all purposes, by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflicts of law principles. Any claim or controversy arising between Executive and the Company and/or Argo Group, shall be settled by final and binding arbitration in Bexar County, Texas pursuant to Section 15 of the Executive Employment Agreement, which is incorporated by reference herein. I acknowledge and agree that I have read Section 15 of the Executive Employment Agreement and understand that it contains a mandatory arbitration provision and that I am agreeing in advance to arbitrate any controversies which arise in connection with this General Release and my Executive Employment Agreement. I agree that any dispute between the parties that is determined to be not subject to arbitration pursuant to Section 15 shall be subject to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the Texas District Court in Bexar County, Texas.


29
 


IV. Notice, Time for Consideration and Revocation Period


A.
THE GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL CLAIMS FOR AGE DISCRIMINATION UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT AND ANY SIMILAR STATE LAWS. THIS GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT WAIVE RIGHTS OR CLAIMS THAT MAY ARISE AFTER THE DATE IT IS EXECUTED;
B.
I AGREE THAT I AM WAIVING RIGHTS AND CLAIMS I MAY HAVE IN EXCHANGE FOR CONSIDERATION WHICH IS IN ADDITION TO THINGS OF VALUE TO WHICH I MAY ALREADY BE ENTITLED;
C.
I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OF MY CHOOSING PRIOR TO EXECUTING THIS GENERAL RELEASE;
D.
IF TERMINATED AS PART OF A TERMINATION OR EXIT INCENTIVE PROGRAM OFFERED TO A GROUP OR CLASS OF EMPLOYEES, I ACKNOWLEDGE i) THAT I HAVE AT LEAST FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO CONSIDER THIS GENERAL RELEASE BEFORE EXECUTING IT; AND ii) THAT I HAVE RECEIVED WRITTEN NOTICE FROM THE COMPANY WHICH INFORMS ME OF THE i) CLASS, UNIT, OR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE PROGRAM, ii) ANY ELIGIBILITY FACTORS FOR SUCH PROGRAM, iii) ANY TIME LIMITS APPLICABLE TO SUCH PROGRAM, AND iv) THE JOB TITLES AND AGES OF ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AND ARE NOT ELIGIBLE OR SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM.
E.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE EVENT THAT I AM FORTY (40) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT THE TIME OF TERMINATION, I WILL HAVE AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO CONSIDER THIS GENERAL RELEASE BEFORE EXECUTING IT; AND
F.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SHOULD THE PROVISIONS OF (D) AND (E) ABOVE NOT OTHERWISE APPLY, I HAVE SEVEN (7) DAYS FOLLOWING MY EXECUTION OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE TO REVOKE IT BY DELIVERING WRITTEN NOTICE OF SUCH REVOCATION TO THE COMPANY AND THAT THE GENERAL RELEASE SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE UNTIL THE REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED.




30
 

Executed on this __________ day of _________________, 20___.

___________________________
MARK E. WATSON III

Executed on this __________ day of _________________, 20___.

ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.

By: ____________________________

Title :         __________________________

31
 


Exhibit 31.1
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer
I, Mark E. Watson III, President and Chief Executive Officer of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: November 6, 2018
 
/s/ Mark E. Watson III
 
 
Mark E. Watson III
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer





Exhibit 31.2
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer
I, Jay S. Bullock, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: November 6, 2018
 
/s/ Jay S. Bullock
 
 
Jay S. Bullock
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer





Exhibit 32.1
Certification of CEO Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (the “Company”) for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), Mark E. Watson III, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of his knowledge:
1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

*
*
*
 
Certified this 6th day of November 2018.
 
/s/ Mark E. Watson III
 
 
Mark E. Watson III
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer





Exhibit 32.2
Certification of CFO Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (the “Company”) for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), Jay S. Bullock, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that, to the best of his knowledge:
1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

*
*
*
 
Certified this 6th day of November 2018.
 
/s/ Jay S. Bullock
 
 
Jay S. Bullock
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer