Fairfax Financial Holdings News

Watsa’s Fairfax Plans to Buy Control of Indonesia Insurer’s Non-Life Unit: Sources

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., the Canadian investment firm led by Prem Watsa, is in advanced talks to buy control of Indonesian financial group PT Paninvest’s non-life insurance unit, people with knowledge of the matter said. The transaction would value the …

Canada’s Fairfax Financial to Raise $536.4M to Fund Larger Stakes in 2 Insurers

Fairfax Financial Holdings said on Monday it plans to raise C$735 million ($536.42 million) through an equity issuance, to fund its acquisition of interests in Eurolife ERB Insurance Group Holdings and ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. The offering of one …

London-Based Brit Opens Singapore Office, Operating via Lloyd’s Platform

Brit Ltd., the London-based specialty insurer, has opened an office in Singapore, which will begin operations on March 1 via the Lloyd’s Singapore platform. Brit has received approval to begin underwriting from both Lloyd’s and the Monetary Authority of Singapore …

Greece’s Eurobank to Sell 80% Stake in Insurance Unit to Fairfax for $345 Million

Greece’s third-largest lender Eurobank agreed to sell an 80 percent stake in its Eurolife ERB insurance subsidiary to Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd for €316 million ($345 million) on Tuesday, deepening ties between the two firms. Toronto-based investment holding firm …

Insurers Face Claims of $600 Million from Brazilian Mine Disaster: Sources

Insurers covering risks for a Brazilian mine where two dams burst last week, killing at least six people, could pay up to $600 million in claims, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Monday. A property policy …

Irish Insurers Face Higher Reserves; Fairfax Financial to Invest in FBD Holdings

Irish insurers will have to set aside significantly more reserves to cover car-crash, workplace injuries and other claims as compensation payouts surge, according to the industry’s regulator. The nation’s central bank will tell insurers the results of a review of …

S&P: Reinsurance M&A Will Be Driven by Berkshire Hathaway Model

Reinsurance M&A activity should continue well into 2016 as competitive pressures continue unabated, Standard & Poor’s said in a new report. The ratings firm said that the Berkshire Hathaways of the world – investment holding companies seeking to enter the …

Brit Reports H1 After-Tax Profit of US$6.4M, Compared to $94.5m in 2014

London-based Brit plc, which completed its merger with Fairfax Financial Holdings in the first half of this year, reported operating profit before foreign exchange and transaction related expenses of $70.9 million, compared with $172.3 million in the first half of …

Fairfax Offers to Buy 26% of Indian Brokerage IIFL for $255 Million

Fairfax India Holdings Corp., the $1 billion fund created by Toronto-based investor Prem Watsa, offered to buy 26 percent more in Indian brokerage IIFL Holdings Ltd.* for $255 million. Fairfax India announced an offer to purchase about 83.1 million shares …

Fairfax’s Potential Hit from Greek Exposure to be Limited – RBC Report

Fairfax Financial Holdings, which bet on a successful turnaround in Greece in 2014, stands to take a hit from a Greek default, but one-time gains and other factors are likely to soften the blow, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) …