Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (Fairfax), through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and the associated investment management.
The company’s insurance and reinsurance companies operate on a decentralized basis, with autonomous management teams applying a focused underwriting strategy to their markets. The company’s subsidiaries provide a full range of property and casualty products, maintaining a diversified portfolio of risks across all c...
Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (Fairfax), through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and the associated investment management.
The company’s insurance and reinsurance companies operate on a decentralized basis, with autonomous management teams applying a focused underwriting strategy to their markets. The company’s subsidiaries provide a full range of property and casualty products, maintaining a diversified portfolio of risks across all classes of business, geographic regions, and types of insureds.
The company’s investments are centrally managed for all the Fairfax group of companies by Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. (‘Hamblin Watsa’), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fairfax.
Reporting Segments
Property and Casualty Insurance and Reinsurance
North American Insurers – comprising Northbridge, Crum & Forster, and Zenith National, this reporting segment provides a full range of commercial insurance in property, casualty, and specialty risks, principally within the United States and Canada.
Global Insurers and Reinsurers – comprising Allied World, Odyssey Group, and Brit, this reporting segment provides diverse insurance and reinsurance coverage to its global customers, including specialty insurance, treaty and facultative reinsurance, and other risk management solutions.
International Insurers and Reinsurers – comprising a collection of international insurers, this reporting segment provides coverage for diverse insurance and reinsurance risks in local markets, primarily across Asia, Europe (excluding the U.K.), and Latin America. The International Insurers and Reinsurers reporting segment’s business is underwritten by individual companies within Fairfax Asia, Fairfax Latin America, and Fairfax Central and Eastern Europe, as well as by Group Re, Bryte Insurance, and Eurolife’s property and casualty insurance operations. On December 26, 2023, the company commenced consolidating Gulf Insurance, which operates across the MENA region.
Life Insurance and Run-off
This reporting segment consists of the life insurance operations of Eurolife and Gulf Insurance, and the U.S. Run-off, which includes TIG Insurance Company.
Non-Insurance Business
This segment includes the franchisor, owner, and operator of restaurants; specialty sleep retailer; Canadian sports lifestyle retail organization; investments in public and private Indian businesses; provider of integrated travel and travel-related financial services; owner and operator of holiday resorts; originator, processor, and distributor of value-added pulses and staple foods; entertainment content creator, producer, and distributor; provider of infrastructure support services; provider of advanced digital tools for agriculture; hospitality real estate investor, developer, and manager; provider of value-added milk, fats, fresh confectionery, and plant-based bulk ingredients; and designer, manufacturer, and distributor of performance sports equipment and related apparel and accessories.
Non-Insurance Companies
This category includes other operating segments as follows:
Restaurants and retail – consisting principally of Recipe, Sleep Country (consolidated on October 1, 2024), and Sporting Life Group.
Fairfax India – consisting of Fairfax India and its subsidiaries.
Thomas Cook India – consisting of Thomas Cook India and its subsidiaries, including Sterling Resorts.
Other – consisting primarily of AGT, Boat Rocker, Dexterra Group, Farmers Edge, Grivalia Hospitality, Meadow Foods (consolidated on November 29, 2024), and Peak Achievement (consolidated on December 20, 2024).
History
The company was incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act in 1951 and continued under the Canada Business Corporations Act in 1976. It was formerly known as Markel Financial Holdings Limited and changed its name to Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited in 1987.