Basis of Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“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, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2015.

The interim financial information as of, and for the three months ended, March 31, 2015 and 2014 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 amounts in prior years’ financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

10% Stock Dividend

On February 17, 2015, our Board of Directors declared a 10% stock dividend, payable on March 16, 2015, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 2, 2015. As a result of the stock dividend, 2,554,506 additional shares were issued. Cash was paid in lieu of fractional shares of our common shares. All references to share and per share amounts in this document and related disclosures have been adjusted to reflect the stock dividend for all periods presented.