Fairfax Financial Holdings News

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) …

S&P Revises Outlook on Fairfax Financial to Stable; Affirms Ratings

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. to stable from negative. At the same time, we affirmed our ‘BBB-‘ long-term counterparty credit rating on Fairfax and its ‘A-‘ long-term counterparty credit and financial …

XL Looks to Illiquid Securities, Infrastructure to Boost Yields: McGavick

XL Group plc Chief Executive Officer Mike McGavick said the insurer is looking to illiquid securities and infrastructure investments to boost portfolio yields squeezed by interest rates that are near record lows. “We can get a little bit into the …

Updated: China’s Fosun to Buy Remaining Shares in Ironshore for $1.84B

Fosun International Ltd., the investment arm of China’s biggest closely held conglomerate, is planning a $1.84 billion merger with Ironshore Inc. after buying the shares it doesn’t already own in the Bermuda-based insurer. Fosun’s unit Mettlesome Investment 2 will combine …

XL CEO: ‘Reinsurance Sector Littered With Roadkill’, Playing High Stakes Game

XL Group plc Chief Executive Officer Mike McGavick said that while he shuns casinos unless he’s with his mother-in-law, he’s felt lately like he was sitting at a “high stakes table” as he made insurance deals. McGavick announced a plan …

EXOR Shuns Hedge Fund Strategy With $6.4 Billion Buyout Plan of PartnerRe

The Agnelli family’s EXOR SpA, known for investments in cars and soccer, is dismissing the prevailing reinsurance strategies as it seeks to push into the industry with a $6.4 billion takeover. EXOR is shunning the idea that it should take …

Fairfax Financial Agrees to Sell 30% Stake in Brit to Ontario Pension Fund

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. will sell as much as 30 percent of Brit plc to the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System two months after agreeing to buy the Lloyd’s of London insurer for $1.88 billion. Fairfax said Wednesday it reached …