Argo Group Consolidates Its Public Entity Business under the Trident Name

Leader in public entity underwriting continues growth in the Northeast U.S.
SAN ANTONIO--(Business Wire)--
Argo Group International Holdings Ltd., (NasdaqGS: AGII), an international
underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products, announced today it
has consolidated its commercial public entity insurance businesses - comprised
of Trident Insurance Services and Massamont Insurance Agency - under the name
Trident. Hilbert "Van" Schenck II will continue his role as president of
Trident.

With $180 million in gross written premium and a distribution network of 650
producers serving more than 2,000 municipalities, counties, public schools,
special districts and other niche markets in 30 states, Trident is one of the
largest providers of commercial insurance for small-to-intermediate sized public
entities in the U.S.

"Combined with Massamont, Trident has become the leading insurance provider to
public entities in the New England region," said Schenck. "We understand the
needs of our clients and partners more deeply than our competitors and have
expanded our business in a smart, strategic and profitable way that benefits all
of our clients. Consolidating our public entity operations under the Trident
name serves to reinforce our collective strengths."

Trident is part of Argo Group`s Commercial Specialty business segment. Trident
provides an all-in-one solution for clients - giving local brokers and agents
access to sales, underwriting, risk control and centralized claims management
capabilities, led by a management team with deep expertise in public entity
insurance. Trident also is a leading provider of commercial lines insurance to
select markets in the Northeast U.S. including petroleum marketers, private
educators, septic haulers and school bus operators, among others.

"Since Trident`s market entrance in 2000, we have quickly attained market
leadership in our specialty niche," said Michael E. Arledge, president of Argo
Group`s Commercial Specialty segment. "Under the Trident brand, we`ll continue
to grow our business and deepen our capabilities in strategic markets. I am
confident that Van Schenck`s strong leadership and market expertise will
underscore this business segment`s continued success."

ABOUT ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.

Headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
(NasdaqGS: AGII) is an international underwriter of specialty insurance and
reinsurance products in the property and casualty market. Argo Group offers a
full line of high-quality products and services designed to meet the unique
coverage and claims handling needs of businesses in four primary segments:
Excess and Surplus Lines, Commercial Specialty, Reinsurance, and International
Specialty. Information on Argo Group and its subsidiaries is available at
www.argolimited.com.

Trident
Jim Tyrrell, 617-478-5217
VP Marketing
JTyrrell@tridentinsurance.net
or
Argo Group US
Rebecca Kelley, 210-321-8547
rkelley@argogroupus.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009