eBaoTech, a leading provider of new generation software and services for the insurance industry, is pleased to announce that it has been engaged by Argo Group to execute on the company’s strategic initiative to implement an end-to-end systems platform.

Argo Group, an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance in the property and casualty market, has operations in nine countries throughout the world including the U.S., U.K., France and Brazil. In 2010, Argo selected eBaoTech’s Java-based insurance policy administration system for a pilot program to support its global growth strategy.

“We required a flexible policy administration platform that would replace our multiple legacy systems and position us for growth by enabling us to react more quickly to market opportunities,” explained Argo Group President and Chief Executive Officer Mark E. Watson III. “eBaoTech’s unique experience at implementing insurance software solutions in both developed and emerging markets made them a logical choice as a partner to transform our business processes across multiple lines of business in multiple countries.”

The two companies recently completed a pilot program using the eBaoTech platform for Argo’s Wineries Program and Management Liability product in the U.S. With the successful completion of these pilots, the two companies are now in the process of implementing eBaoTech® GeneralSystem Suite for all of Argo’s U.S. operations to replace over 12 legacy applications, many of them inherited through business acquisitions. In addition, the eBaoTech GeneralSystem Suite has been implemented in Argo’s new Brazil operations and in certain product lines in its U.K. and France operations.

“eBaoTech’s ability to work with us on a global basis and support our growth plans across many markets is critical to our partnership,” noted Argo Group Chief Information Officer Farid Nagji. “Delivery time was the biggest challenge as we recently launched our new company in Sao Paulo. The policy administration system had to be in production when we were officially authorized to do business in Brazil. The strong collaboration of the implementation teams from Argo and eBaoTech enabled us to meet deadlines while assuring quality deployment.”

Alex Young, Executive Vice President of eBaoTech Americas division, commented, “Argo U.S. is a milestone project for eBaoTech; it is our first implementation in the U.S., the world’s biggest insurance market. The Argo Group project provides a successful model for insurers wishing to use a modern platform to significantly simplify and standardize their business in multiple countries.”

Woody Mo, CEO and President of eBaoTech, added, “We are very pleased to be Argo’s software partner on a global basis. We’re off to a great beginning with the successful U.S. pilots and the implementations in Argo’s UK, France, and Brazil operations. We are committed to supporting Argo’s ongoing success across all of its businesses.”

About Argo Group international
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 products and services designed to meet the unique coverage and claims handling needs of businesses in four primary segments: Excess & Surplus Lines, Commercial Specialty, International Specialty and Syndicate 1200. Argo Group’s insurance subsidiaries are A. M. Best-rated ‘A’ (Excellent) (third highest rating out of 16 rating classifications) with a stable outlook, and Argo’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries are Standard and Poor’s-rated ‘A-‘ (Strong) with a stable outlook. More information on Argo Group and its subsidiaries is available at www.argolimited.com.

About eBaoTech
eBaoTech delivers standards-based, highly configurable insurance software suites to both property and casualty (P&C) and life insurers. Its product offerings enable insurers to realize cost-effective, scalable, flexible and highly automated insurance operations in an ever-changing environment. With offices in ten countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas, and installations in more than 20 countries, eBaoTech has extensive global presence to serve leading insurance companies. For more information, visit www.ebaotech.com/jp/.