A.M. Best Comments on Proposed Acquisition by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited of Minority Stake in Odyssey Re Holdings Corp.
September 08 2009 - 3:34PM
Business Wire
A.M. Best Co. has commented that the ratings of
Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (Fairfax) (Toronto,
Canada) [NYSE: FFH; TSE: FFH] are expected to be unchanged
following its proposed acquisition of the outstanding common shares
of Odyssey Re Holdings Corp. (ORH) (Delaware) [NYSE: ORH].
Fairfax currently owns 72.6% of ORH.
The transaction is valued at approximately $1 billion at the
proposed price of $60 per share, and the acquisition is expected to
be fully financed by an equity issuance under Fairfax’s existing
shelf registration. Fairfax anticipates that cash and marketable
securities at the holding company level will remain in excess of $1
billion following the completion of the transaction. The proposed
acquisition is subject to the approval of the majority of ORH
minority shareholders, as well as that of the securities and
insurance regulators in Canada and the United States.
By acquiring the outstanding shares of ORH, Fairfax regains
complete financial control over a global broker market reinsurance
platform, which is already well aligned with its strategy, goals
and values through Fairfax’s majority ownership. Fairfax will
benefit from the availability of 100% of ORH’s revenues, which
should be enhanced modestly by the elimination of expenses related
to maintaining ORH’s separate public listing.
Partially offsetting these positive factors for Fairfax are the
possibility of unanticipated shareholder or regulatory objections
to the proposed transaction and the potential for increased
dividend expense following the equity issuance. The company’s
global reinsurance business will remain somewhat challenged by
market conditions generally, by its specific legacy issues and by
the need to integrate its various reinsurance properties at a
strategic level. On balance, however, A.M. Best believes the
potential benefits to Fairfax outweigh these negative factors.
For Best’s Credit Ratings, an overview
of the rating process and rating methodologies, please visit
www.ambest.com/ratings.
The principal methodologies used in determining these ratings,
including any additional methodologies and factors that may have
been considered, can be found at
www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.
Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service
credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and
health care service industries, including insurance companies,
banks, hospitals and health care system providers. For more
information, visit www.ambest.com.
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