Canadian Underwriter

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Fairfax


News ClaimsClaims CanadaInsurance

The ‘social inflation’ affecting Fairfax Financial’s run-off business

February 21, 2020 by Greg Meckbach

Asbestos-related commercial liability claims could soon reach a peak, but they continue to be a concern for the property and casualty insurance industry, suggests Prem Watsa, founder and chairman of Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. “Asbestos has been a problem

News Insurance

Firming market ‘might have legs,’ Fairfax executive predicts

November 4, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

Insurance premiums are up nearly 14% for carriers owned by Fairfax Financial, and much of that is due to price increases, the holdings company’s president suggests. “In my career here – 16 years – I haven’t seen anything quite like

News InsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

This Canada-based insurance giant is taking a break on mega-mergers

August 14, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

If a blockbuster insurer merger gets announced tomorrow, it probably won’t involve Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., which has grown steadily through insurer acquisitions over the past 34 years. “We are not looking to add in a significant way from

News Commercial LinesInsurance

Commercial insurer raising some prices by 30%

August 12, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

The hardening commercial insurance market has resulted in double-digit price increases for some of Fairfax Financial’s insurers, with rates in some lines increasing by nearly a third. “Price increases are significant, some lines up as much as 30%,” said Paul

News Insurance

Fairfax replaces Allied World CEO

July 22, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

Scott Carmilani, until recently CEO of Allied World Assurance Company Holdings GmbH,  has a new role with Fairfax Insurance Group, Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. announced last week. Fairfax owns about two-thirds of Zug, Switzerland-based Allied World. Replacing Carmilani as CEO

News AppointmentsInsurance

Fairfax chief financial officer died suddenly

May 21, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

David Bonham, chief financial officer of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., died suddenly this past weekend, the Toronto-based company announced Tuesday. Fairfax is the corporate owner of Northbridge Insurance and several international property and casualty insurers, including OdysseyRe, Brit PLC, Allied

News Earnings / RatingsInsurance

How Fairfax’s Allied World acquisition is working out

May 10, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

Old medical malpractice claims with Allied World Assurance Company are still affecting the bottom line of Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., which bought the majority of Allied World nearly two years ago. With a combined ratio of 102.3%, Zug, Switzerland-based

News InsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

Where Fairfax is going with future acquisitions

February 19, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

While Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. is not ruling out the possibility of buying small specialty insurance players, don’t expect the firm to buy any big insurers any time soon. Toronto-based Fairfax, whose holdings include Northbridge Insurance, bought the majority of

News InsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

What’s next for Fairfax in the Lloyd’s market

November 2, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. plans to buy the remainder of Lloyd’s insurer Brit PLC within the next couple of years, Fairfax president Paul Rivett said Friday. Toronto-based Northbridge Insurance and Stamford, Conn.-based OdysseyRe are among the insurance subsidiaries owned

News InsuranceMarkets / Coverages

What Fairfax’s CEO is saying about interest rates

May 19, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

As Canadian insurers struggle with auto claims and weather-related losses, relief may be in sight in the form of interest rate increases. “We think interest rates will go up over time because the economy of the U.S. is doing very

News CatastrophesClaimsInsurance

No hard market despite 2017 hurricane losses: Fairfax

May 17, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

Despite nearly US$100 billion in hurricane losses in 2017, insurance buyers are not experiencing a hard market like they did after the 2001 terror attacks that brought the World Trade Centre down, the head of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. suggests.

News Earnings / RatingsInsurance

Intact, Fairfax discuss impact of interest rate hike on income

February 27, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

With interest rates at historic lows, Canadian property and casualty insurers rely more on underwriting profits to keep profitable than they have in the past. What difference would a rate hike make to insurers? A one percentage point rise in