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Fairfax Financial

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FY2002 Annual Report · Fairfax Financial
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2002 Annual Report

Contents

Five Year Financial Highlights

Corporate Profile

Chairman’s Letter to Shareholders

Fairfax Consolidated Financial Statements

Auditors’ Report to the Shareholders

Comment by Auditors for U.S. Readers

Valuation Actuary’s Report

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial

Condition and Results of Operations

Supplementary Financial Information

Fairfax Insurance and Reinsurance Companies –

Combined Financial Statements

Fairfax with Equity Accounting of Lindsey

Morden – Consolidated Financial Statements

Fairfax – Unconsolidated Financial Statements

Appendix A – November 8, 2002 Letter to

Shareholders

Appendix B – Fairfax Guiding Principles

Consolidated Financial Summary

Corporate Information

1

2

5

24

29

29

29

30

51

117

118

120

122

124

128

129

130

2002 Annual Report

Five Year Financial Highlights

Revenue ***************
Net earnings (loss) *****
Total assets ************
Common shareholders’

equity ***************

Common shares

outstanding – year-
end (millions) ********

Return on average

equity ***************

Per share

(in Cdn$ millions except share and per share data)

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

7,962.3

415.7

6,125.7

(346.0)

6,188.5

137.4

5,788.5

124.2

3,574.3

387.5

35,110.5

35,438.7

31,833.3

31,979.1

20,886.7

3,351.5

3,042.7

3,180.3

3,116.0

2,238.9*

14.1

14.4

13.1

13.4

12.1*

12.8%

(11.9%)

4.1%

4.3%

20.1%

Net earnings (loss) ***

28.78

(28.04)

9.41

9.20

32.63

Common

shareholders’ equity

237.01

213.06

242.75

231.98

184.54

Market prices per share

High ****************
Low *****************
Close ****************

195.00

104.99

121.11

289.00

160.00

164.00

246.00

146.75

228.50

610.00

180.00

245.50

603.00

253.00

540.00

* not including share subscription receipts issued December 22, 1998 or their proceeds

1

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Corporate Profile

Fairfax  Financial  Holdings  Limited  is  a  financial  services  holding  company  whose

corporate objective is to achieve a high rate of return on invested capital and build long term

shareholder value. The company has been under present management since September 1985.

Canadian insurance subsidiaries

Commonwealth Insurance, based in Vancouver, offers commercial property, oil, gas and

petrochemicals  and  marine  insurance  in  Canada,  the  United  States  and  internationally,  and

commercial casualty insurance in Canada. The company has been in business since 1947. In

2002, Commonwealth’s net premiums written were $343.6 million. At year-end, the company

had capital and surplus of $207.2 million and there were 164 employees.

Federated Insurance, based in Winnipeg, markets a broad range of insurance products in

Canada primarily for commercial customers. The company has been in business since 1920. In

2002,  Federated’s  net  premiums  written  were  $87.5  million,  consisting  of  $71.6  million  of

property  and  casualty  business  and  $15.9  million  of  life  and  group  health  and  disability

products. At year-end, the company had capital and surplus of $52.7 million and there were

275 employees.

Lombard Insurance, based in Toronto, writes a complete range of commercial and personal

insurance  products  in  Canada.  The  company  has  been  in  business  since  1904.  In  2002,

Lombard’s net premiums written were $691.1 million. At year-end, the company had capital

and surplus of $190.1 million and there were 751 employees.

Markel Insurance, based in Toronto, is the leading trucking insurance company in Canada

and has provided the Canadian trucking industry with a continuous market for this class of

insurance  since  1951.  In  2002,  Markel’s  net  premiums  written  were  $126.9  million.  At  year-

end, the company had capital and surplus of $51.0 million and there were 152 employees.

CRC  (Bermuda)  Reinsurance,  based  in  Bermuda,  is  the  principal  reinsurer  of  Lombard

Insurance, Federated Insurance, Markel Insurance and Commonwealth Insurance’s Canadian

operations.  Cessions  to  CRC  (Bermuda)  are  included  in  the  net  premiums  written  of  those

companies. At year-end, the company had capital and surplus of $132.3 million.

U.S. insurance subsidiaries

Crum & Forster (C&F), based in Morristown, New Jersey, is a national commercial property

and  casualty  insurance  company  in  the  United  States  writing  a  broad  range  of  commercial

coverages.  Its  subsidiary  Seneca  Insurance  provides  property  and  casualty  insurance  to  small

businesses and certain specialty coverages. The company has been in business since 1824. In

2002,  C&F’s  net  premiums  written  were  US$779.0  million.  At  year-end,  the  company  had

capital and surplus of US$1,039.5 million and there were 879 employees.

Fairmont Insurance is the proposed name under which the continuing operations of TIG

Specialty  Insurance  –  the  Ranger,  Hawaii  (commercial  and  personal  lines) and  Accident  and

2

Health  businesses  –  will  be  carried  on  in  2003.  In  2002,  the  net  premiums  written  of  these

continuing operations were US$213.9 million.

Old  Lyme  Insurance,  based  in  New  York,  writes  multi-line  commercial  and  personal

property and casualty insurance. Old Lyme was acquired from Hub International Limited on

May 30, 2002. In 2002, Old Lyme’s net premiums written were US$38.5 million. At year-end,

the company had capital and surplus of US$46.6 million and there were four employees.

Falcon  Insurance,  based  in  Hong  Kong,  writes  property  and  casualty  insurance  to  niche

markets  in  Hong  Kong.  In  2002,  Falcon’s  net  premiums  written  were  HK$337.8  million

(approximately  HK$5  =  C$1).  At  year-end,  the  company  had  capital  and  surplus  of

HK$156.6 million and there were 122 employees.

OdysseyRe reinsurance group

OdysseyRe, based in Stamford, Connecticut, underwrites treaty and facultative reinsurance as

well as certain insurance business, with branches in London, Paris, Singapore and Toronto and

affiliated offices in New York, Miami, Mexico City, Santiago, Cologne, Stockholm and Tokyo.

In  2002,  OdysseyRe’s  net  premiums  written  were  US$1,584.3  million.  At  year-end,  the

company had capital and surplus of US$1,020.7 million and there were 424 employees.

Runoff subsidiaries

The Resolution Group (TRG) was formed in 1993 to manage the runoff of International

Insurance Company and other discontinued lines of  business written by the former Talegen

group  of  insurance  companies.  The  runoff  required  effective  management  of  major  direct

excess  and  surplus  lines  insurance  and  reinsurance  liabilities,  the  resolution  of  complex

litigation and the collection and management of reinsurance assets.

RiverStone Group (RiverStone), run by TRG management, was established following the

acquisition  of  TRG,  primarily  to  manage  the  runoff  of  certain  Fairfax  insurance  subsidiaries

and  other  discontinued  lines  of  business  written  by  other  Fairfax  companies.  RiverStone

Management  (UK)  manages  the  Sphere  Drake  and  RiverStone  Insurance  (UK)  runoff

operations.  In  2002,  RiverStone  Stockholm  and  Sphere  Drake  Bermuda  and  the  non-life

operations  of  Compagnie  Transcontinentale  de  R´eassurance  (prior  to  the  wind-up  of  that

company) were consolidated into RiverStone Insurance (UK).

TIG Specialty Insurance merged with International Insurance, TRG’s runoff subsidiary,

on December 16, 2002 and was placed in runoff under RiverStone’s management. At year-end,

the  merged  company,  constituting  the  U.S.  runoff  group,  had  capital  and  surplus  of

US$1,936.1  million  and  there  were  736  employees  located  in  Dallas  and  Manchester,  New

Hampshire.

ORC Re, based in Ireland, was established in 1997.

It reinsures the reinsurance portfolios of

Fairfax’s  other  European  runoff  operations,  provides  consolidated  investment  and  liquidity

management services to the European runoff group, participates in the reinsurance programs

for the U.S. insurance companies with third party reinsurers, and has provided post-acquisition

3

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

reinsurance protection for the U.S. insurance companies. RiverStone Management (UK), with

243  employees  and  offices  in  London,  Brighton,  Paris  and  Stockholm,  manages  ORC  Re’s

insurance  and  reinsurance  liabilities  and  the  collection  and  management  of  its  reinsurance

assets. Sphere Drake, RiverStone Insurance (UK) and ORC Re constitute the European runoff

group. At year-end, ORC Re had capital and surplus of US$2.0 billion, of which US$1.6 billion

is related to equity and debt financing for the acquisition of the U.S. insurance and reinsurance

companies, and there were eight employees.

Wentworth Insurance, based in Barbados, was incorporated in 1990. It writes selected long

term property and casualty reinsurance. At year-end, the company had capital and surplus of

US$82.1 million and there were seven employees.

Claims adjusting and insurance brokerage

Lindsey  Morden  Group  provides  claims  adjusting,  appraisal  and  claims  and  risk

management services to a wide variety of insurance companies and self-insured organizations

in  Canada,  the  United  States,  the  United  Kingdom,  continental  Europe,  the  Far  East,  Latin

America  and  the  Middle  East.  In  2002,  revenue  totalled  $457.9  million.  The  company  was

established in 1923, and at year-end the group had 3,659 employees located in 320 offices.

Hub International is an insurance brokerage company selling a broad range of commercial,

personal and life insurance products. The company was established in 1998, and at year-end

had 2,340 employees in 122 offices in Canada and the United States. In 2002, the company

had total revenue of US$220.0 million.

Investment management subsidiary

Hamblin  Watsa  Investment  Counsel  was  founded  in  1984  and  provides  investment

management to the insurance, reinsurance and runoff subsidiaries of Fairfax.

Notes:

(1) All  companies  are  wholly  owned  except  OdysseyRe,  a  public  company  of  which  Fairfax  owned

73.8% at the end of 2002; Lindsey Morden Group, a public company of which Fairfax owns 75.0%

of the equity and 89.5% of the votes; Hub International, a public company of which Fairfax owns

28.7%; and Advent Capital (Holdings) PLC, of which Fairfax owns 46.8%.

(2) The  foregoing  lists  all  of  Fairfax’s  operating  groups.  The  Fairfax  corporate  structure  includes  a

number  of  companies,  principally  investment  or  intermediate  holding  companies  (including

companies  located  in  Hungary,  Gibraltar  and  Mauritius),  which  are  not  part  of  these  operating

groups. These companies had no insurance, reinsurance, runoff or other operations.

4

To Our Shareholders:

2002 was a record year for us as we earned the highest profit in our history while achieving a

100% combined ratio for our ongoing insurance and reinsurance operations. We made a 12.8%

return on average shareholders’ equity in 2002 (compared to about 6% for the S&P/TSX and

about 13% for the S&P 500). We earned $415.7 million or $28.78 per share in 2002 compared

to a loss of $346.0 million or $28.04 per share in 2001. Book value per share increased 11.2% to

$237.01 while our share price dropped 26.2% to $121.11 per share from $164.00 at year-end

2001.

Our  record  results  in  2002  emanated  from  excellent  underwriting  and  investment

performance,  as  discussed  in  my  letter  of  November  8,  2002  to  you  (reproduced  in

Appendix  A),  as  well  as  our  decision  on  December  16,  2002,  as  part  of  a  comprehensive

restructuring of TIG, to place TIG’s MGA-controlled program business in runoff under TRG’s

highly skilled management.

Let me take these three major items one at a time.

Underwriting Performance

Canadian Insurance Companies

Commonwealth

Federated

Lombard

Markel

Total

U.S. Insurance Companies

Crum & Forster

TIG (continuing operations)

Falcon

Old Lyme

Total

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

Total Fairfax

Year ended December 31, 2002

Combined Ratio
(%)

Net Premiums
Written
(% change)

84.1

94.0

98.6

96.3

95.8

103.3

106.0

99.8

92.9

103.6

99.1

100.1

+95

+15

+26

+69

+43

+53*

+54

+270

N/A

+56

+68

+58

* +24% including ceded reinsurance premium in 2001

We said last year that, given current conditions, we wanted to grow our insurance/reinsurance

business  significantly  and  increase  our  retentions  significantly  while  achieving  combined

ratios below 100%. This we achieved in 2002 because of a lot of hard work and tremendous

focus by all our presidents and management teams, as the above table indicates. And this is not

a one-year result because of a hard market. Our focus on underwriting profitability will never

waver as we remember the atrocious results in 1999-2001.

5

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Investment Results

During  2002,  when  North  American  and  European  equity  markets  suffered  losses  of  15-35%

and many bond portfolios suffered losses from telecoms, techs and various high fliers, the total

return on Fairfax’s investment portfolio (including all interest and dividend income, gains and

losses on disposal of securities and the change in the unrealized gains and losses during the

year) was 11%. The results on equities alone were even better, as shown on page 18. This was

exceptional investment performance by the Hamblin Watsa investment team. Realized gains

in 2002 amounted to $738 million or 4.5% of the investment portfolio. Most importantly, the

investment  portfolios  are  well  positioned  to  benefit  from  greater  turmoil  in  the  future  as

discussed in the Investments section beginning on page 18.

The TIG/TRG Transaction

This consisted of the following three components:

1.

TIG  discontinued  its  MGA-controlled  program  business  in  Dallas  and  restructured

the remainder of its operations.

TIG’s  MGA-controlled  program  business  (business  controlled  by  managing  general

agents,  who  have  authority  to  bind  the  company),  which  accounted  for

US$379  million  (about  half)  of  TIG’s  net  premiums  written  in  2002,  was  placed  in

runoff  under  the  dedicated  and  expert  management  of  TRG/RiverStone.  TIG’s

Ranger, Hawaii and A&H business, which accounted for US$214 (about a quarter) of

TIG’s net premiums written in 2002, will be separately managed under the proposed

name of Fairmont Insurance. Napa Healthcare will be written through a subsidiary of

OdysseyRe (or reinsured by OdysseyRe) effective January 1, 2003. Napa’s remaining

excess property and excess casualty units will operate going forward predominantly

as a managing general underwriter.

In  restructuring  TIG  as  described,  Fairfax  strengthened  TIG’s  reserves  by

US$200  million  and  took  a  restructuring  charge  of  approximately  US$64  million.

Also,  Fairfax’s  ORC  Re  subsidiary  provided  TIG  with  a  US$300  million  adverse

development cover. The amount of the strengthening and the adverse development

cover  were  established  by  TRG  management,  who  are  experts  in  runoffs  and  who

required  comfort  on  these  matters  before  proceeding  to  merge  their  International

Insurance subsidiary with TIG, as described below. The combination of these actions

should put TIG behind us – excluding any liability under the cover.

2. We acquired the remaining 721/2% economic interest in TRG (the parent company of

International  Insurance  Company  (IIC))  in  exchange  for  payments  over  the  next

15 years.

We were happy to acquire the remaining interest in TRG because we have grown very

comfortable with TRG and its management team during the three and a half years

since we acquired our original interest, and we purchased this interest at an attractive

price. We think Mike Coutu and Dennis Gibbs have built TRG to be among the finest

runoff companies in the U.S. and, in the past three and a half years, have done an

outstanding  job  settling  Fairfax’s  APH  claims,  CD  claims,  reinsurance  recoverables

6

and other tough-to-settle claims. TRG has been an essential resource for us as it has

been responsible for our runoff operations. To understand why we were very keen on

acquiring TRG, you need to know some facts about its track record for the 1993-2002

period.

Statutory surplus

Cumulative dividends paid

September 30,
2002

(US$ millions)

353

215

1993

150

–

In each of the past five years, TRG/IIC has paid an annual dividend of US$30 million

(not bad for a runoff company!!).

Now, as mentioned in our press release, TRG had a GAAP equity of US$547 million

on  September  30,  2002  (GAAP  equity  is  higher  than  statutory  surplus  principally

because of deductions for recoverables from unregistered reinsurers required in the

calculation  of  statutory  surplus).  Our  existing  271/2%  interest  gave  us  ownership  of

approximately  US$150  million  of  this  US$547  million  equity.  The  remaining

US$397  million  in  GAAP  equity  we  purchased  for  US$425  million,  payable

approximately  US$5  million  a  quarter  from  2003  to  2017  and  approximately

US$128 million at the end of 2017. The present value of this stream of payments at a

discount  rate  of  9%  per  annum  is  approximately  US$204  million,  resulting  in

negative  goodwill  at  the  December  16,  2002  closing  date  of  approximately

US$188  million.  Given  the  management  track  record,  the  excellent  earnings  and

dividend  history  of  TRG,  its  liquid  US$790  million  investment  portfolio  and  its

remaining  US$101  million  of  excess  of  loss  reinsurance  protection,  a  price  of

US$204 million or about half book value seemed very attractive to us. This, of course,

does  not  include  the  additional  benefits  that  TRG  and  Mike  and  Dennis  bring  to

Fairfax. With 100% economic interest, we do have additional APH exposure from IIC

but,  as  explained  in  the  MD&A  section  on  asbestos  starting  on  page  81,  we  are

comfortable  with  the  reserves  established  and  the  talent  and  focus  TRG  brings  to

settling these claims. Please don’t underestimate the value of this purchase. One of

our directors thinks it may be our best!!

3.

TIG and IIC merged and distributed $1.25 billion of assets to Fairfax.

We  merged  TIG  and  IIC  effective  December  16,  2002  and,  with  the  California

Department  of  Insurance’s  approval,  distributed  $1.25  billion  of  assets  to  Fairfax,

including 33.2 million of TIG’s 47.8 million shares of OdysseyRe Holdings, all of the

shares  of  Commonwealth  (GAAP  equity  of  approximately  $207  million)  and  all  of

the shares of Ranger Insurance (GAAP equity of approximately $136 million). These

distributed  securities  will  initially  be  held  in  trust  for  TIG’s  benefit.  If  the

US$300  million  adverse  development  cover  described  above  is  placed  externally  to

California’s satisfaction, then up to US$300 million of securities will be released from

the trust. If at the end of 2003 TIG has US$500 million of statutory surplus, a risk-

based capital of 200% and a net reserves to surplus ratio of less than 3:1, substantially

7

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

all of the remainder of these assets will be released from the trust. We continue to

expect to meet these tests at the end of 2003 and are also working on acquiring the

cover at a reasonable cost.

So,  to  summarize,  this  transaction  solved  our  problems  with  TIG,  eliminated  the  outside

interest in TRG and freed up substantial assets previously held under TIG, for a total economic

cost  (after  the  reserve  and  restructuring  charges  and  the  negative  goodwill  benefit)  of

US$33  million  after  tax  (plus  the  purchase  price  of  the  721/2%  TRG  interest).  (The  negative

goodwill  and  the  total  economic  cost  changed  a  little  from  the  amounts  indicated  in  our

December  16  press  release  as  a  result  of  changes  in  the  fair  market  value  of  TRG’s  portfolio

investments.)

This was a project that would not have been completed if not for the leadership of Mike Coutu

and Dennis Gibbs working with Steve Brett, Scott Donovan and many others at TRG, TIG and

our small team at Fairfax. Amazing what a small team working together can do!

Some  final  reflections  on  our  travails  with  TIG.  In  April  1999  we  purchased  the  company,

which  had  a  book  value  of  US$1,127  million,  for  US$847  million.  TIG  consisted  of  TIG

Insurance  in  Dallas  and  its  subsidiary  TIG  Re  in  Stamford,  with  TIG  Re  accounting  for

US$633 million of the total US$847 million purchase price. TIG Re, with its meaningful capital

and  its  significant  business  platform  in  the  U.S.,  London  and  Latin  America,  was  key  in

OdysseyRe becoming the large worldwide reinsurer it is today. It is easy to see that OdysseyRe,

without  TIG  Re,  would  not  have  been  a  significant  player  in  the  reinsurance  world  where

capital is key. As TIG Re accounted for approximately 58% of OdysseyRe’s capital, it would not

take much of an increase in OdysseyRe’s stock price to make our investment in TIG profitable.

Of course, our big mistake at TIG was not recognizing that its MGA model would not work,

particularly with one broker controlling 40-50% of the business. We should have shut or sold

the  MGA  business  years  back  and  built  on  the  much  smaller  individual  risk  underwriting

operations. The losses at TIG resulted in a weakening of our financial position. You can rest

assured on one thing, unless there are exceptional circumstances, we will not ‘‘give our pen’’

away.

So  overall,  TIG  Re  definitely  delivered  the  benefit  that  we  saw  in  it  when  we  made  the  TIG

acquisition, but we cannot count TIG alongside our many very successful acquisitions, which

include our Canadian companies, OdysseyRe and Crum & Forster.

How long will the hard insurance market last? No one knows the answer to that question. As

we suggested last year, this up cycle may have some ‘‘shelf life’’ because of a variety of reasons,

including  historically  low  interest  rates,  loss  of  capital  in  European  insurance/reinsurance

companies because of the significant decline in stock prices, bond losses from WorldCom, etc.

and  the  industry  having  yet  to  rebuild  capital  due  to  reserve  increases.  The  one  additional

factor we see is potential losses from North American insurance companies reaching for yield

by buying or insuring bonds collateralized with auto loans, home equity loans and credit card

debt  which,  we  fear,  may  suffer  default  rates  much  higher  than  in  the  past  if  the  economy

deteriorates.

8

Below we update the table on intrinsic value and stock prices that we first presented three years

ago.  As  you  can  see  from  the  table,  in  2002  we  essentially  made  up  for  2001  but  the  stock

market  could  care  less.  Book  value  per  share  and  investments  per  share  are  almost  back  to

2000  year-end  levels.  The  intrinsic  value  of  our  Canadian  insurance  companies  and  of

OdysseyRe  and  Crum  &  Forster  increased  significantly  in  2002,  more  than  offsetting  the

decrease in TIG.

INTRINSIC VALUE

STOCK PRICE

1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002

ROE
%

25.4
31.3
21.2
20.3
23.0
21.3
7.7
20.3
12.1
20.1
21.4
20.4
20.1
4.3
4.1
(11.9)
12.8

% Change in
Book Value*
per Share

% Change in
Stock Price

+ 183
+ 41
+ 22
+ 23
+ 39
+ 24
+ 11
+ 48
+ 25
+ 22
+ 63
+ 44
+ 47
+ 26
+
5
– 12
+ 11

+ 292
–
3
+ 21
+ 25
– 41
+ 93
+ 18
+ 145
9
+
+ 46
+ 196
+ 10
+ 69
– 55
–
7
– 28
– 26

1985-2002

16.1%

+ 32%

+ 24%

* First measure of intrinsic value, as discussed in our 1997 Annual Report

As  we  review  the  long  term  results  in  the  table  above  and  reflect  on  the  fact  that  (a)  our

common  shareholders’  equity  is  now  $3.4  billion  vs  $10  million  when  we  began,  and

(b) interest rates are at historical lows, we think it is time to reduce our target ROE to 15% – not

in any one year but over the long term. We will view the 20% objective with much nostalgia

because it has served us well over the past 17 years. We have made this change in our guiding

principles, which we have again reproduced in Appendix B.

9

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

The table below shows the sources of our net earnings with Lindsey Morden equity accounted.

This table, like various others below, sets out an analysis which we have consistently used and

which  we  believe  assists  you  to  understand  Fairfax,  even  though  it  may  not  follow  GAAP:

please see note (2) on page 51 in the MD&A. One of the objectives in our guiding principles is

to provide complete disclosure annually to our shareholders, and we work hard to do this in a

manner which best discloses the substance of our information, both good and bad.

Underwriting

Insurance

Canada

U.S.

Reinsurance

Underwriting income (loss)

Interest and dividends

Operating income (loss)

Realized gains

Runoff

TIG reserve strengthening and

restructuring costs

Claims adjusting (Fairfax portion)

Interest expense

Other

Taxes

Negative goodwill on TRG purchase

Non-controlling interests

2002

2001

($ millions)

39.5

(65.5)

20.3

(5.7)

460.0

454.3

737.7

(117.7)

(414.2)

(10.5)

(125.0)

(88.8)

(234.6)

298.5

(84.0)

(119.5)

(637.9)

(214.7)

(972.1)

491.7

(480.4)

213.5

(27.4)

–

(3.9)

(155.2)

(276.7)

382.5

–

1.6

Net earnings (loss)

415.7

(346.0)

The  table  shows  you  the  results  from  our  insurance  and  reinsurance  (underwriting  and

investments), runoff and non-insurance operations. Runoff operations include the U.S. runoff

group (the merged TIG and IIC) and the European runoff group (Sphere Drake, RiverStone (UK)

and  ORC  Re).  Claims  adjusting  shows  you  our  share  of  Lindsey  Morden’s  after-tax  income.

Also shown separately are realized gains so that you can better understand our earnings from

our  operating  companies.  Also,  please  note  the  unaudited  financial  statements  of  our

combined  insurance  and  reinsurance  operations  and  of  Fairfax  with  Lindsey  Morden  equity

accounted, shown on pages 118 to 121.

Operating  income  (insurance  underwriting  and  interest  and  dividends)  swung  dramatically

from  a  loss  of  $480.4  million  in  2001  to  a  profit  of  $454.3  million  in  2002  as  underwriting

losses dropped dramatically from $972.1 million in 2001 to $5.7 million in 2002. Please note

the ‘‘virtuous’’ part of the insurance cycle when underwriting income, investment income and

realized gains are all additive. We have experienced this before. Interest and dividend income

dropped 6% to $460.0 million in 2002, reflecting lower interest rates, large cash positions and

10

our strategy of not reaching for yield. Realized gains increased dramatically to $737.7 million

in 2002 or 4.5% of the portfolio – not far above the average since 1985 of 3.8%.

Runoff  losses  of  $117.7  million  were  primarily  due  to  TIG’s  discontinued  MGA-controlled

program business which is included in the runoff group with retroactive effect from January 1,

2002. On page 64 of the MD&A, we have summarized the operating results of the runoff group.

This  analysis  shows  TRG  generating  operating  income  of  $7.5  million,  European  runoff

generating a small operating loss of $2.0 million and TIG’s MGA-controlled program business

contributing operating losses of $123.2 million before reserve strengthening and restructuring

costs. Our objective in the runoff group is to generate sufficient investment income from our

portfolios to more than offset operating expenses and any additional claims costs.

Other  includes  Swiss  Re  premium,  corporate  overhead,  other  costs  including  restructuring

charges and, in 2001, Kingsmead losses and goodwill and negative goodwill amortization. The

items applicable in 2002 are discussed in the MD&A on pages 64 and 65.

Insurance and Reinsurance Operations

Our insurance and reinsurance management teams delivered in 2002 (with the exception of

TIG,  as  already  discussed).  We  had  an  outstanding  year  on  an  underwriting  basis  as  our

Canadian companies and OdysseyRe produced underwriting profits and Crum & Forster was

not far behind. While Crum & Forster’s combined ratio for 2002 was 103.3%, in the third and

fourth quarters its combined ratio was 102.6% and 101.4%. All of our continuing operations

are targeting combined ratios below 100% in 2003, and we are relentlessly focused on earning

an underwriting profit at all of our insurance and reinsurance companies.

Underwriting
profit (loss)

2002
($ millions)

23.5

4.2

8.6

3.5

39.5

(36.9)

(35.4)

0.2

3.2

Combined ratio

2002
(%)

84.1

94.0

98.6

96.3

2001
(%)

162.6

102.8

115.3

99.4

95.8

116.4

103.3

106.0

99.8

92.9

131.1

131.2

125.2

N/A

Commonwealth

Federated

Lombard

Markel

Total Canadian insurance

Crum & Forster

TIG

Falcon

Old Lyme

Total U.S. insurance

(65.5)

103.6

125.3

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

Total

20.3

(5.7)

99.1

115.4

100.1

120.7

11

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

On  pages  56  to  60  of  the  MD&A,  we  have  provided  more  disclosure  on  each  company’s

operations so that you can see how each of them individually has done. I will not repeat that

disclosure other than to make the following points:

(a) Canadian Insurance Operations

What  an  outstanding  performance  by  our  Canadian  management  teams!  Ron

Schwab, President of Commonwealth, increased net premiums written by 95% to a

record  $344  million  with  a  combined  ratio  of  84%.  John  Paisley,  President  of

Federated,  increased  net  premiums  written  by  15%  to  a  record  $88  million  at  a

combined ratio of 94%. Byron Messier, President of Lombard, increased net written

premiums by 26% to a record $691 million at a combined ratio of 98.6%. And Mark

Ram,  President  of  Markel,  increased  net  premiums  written  by  69%  to  a  record

$127 million at a combined ratio of 96%. Without exception, combined ratios below

100% and record net premiums written. We believe the industry is running at about

106%.  The  momentum  is  with  us  as  we  continue  to  expand  in  2003  at  an

underwriting profit. Our Canadian Presidents know that we can never again repeat

the  results  of  the  1999-2001  period.  The  outlook  for  higher  pricing  in  Canada

continues to be very attractive.

(b) U.S. Insurance Operations

When Bruce Esselborn joined Crum & Forster in late 1999, he said he needed three

years to fix the company. At the end of 2002, with a combined ratio of 103.3%, Bruce

feels  they  have  done  it.  It  has  taken  a  tremendous  amount  of  hard  work  and

determination.  Crum  &  Forster  today,  in  many  ways,  is  a  very  different  company

than what Bruce inherited. The statistics below show the change.

1999

2000

2001

2002

No. of Policies

Premium/Policy
(US$)

32,790

20,283

10,102

6,226

19,792

26,653

59,310

108,477

The number of policies has decreased by 80% as premium per policy has gone up five

times.  This  outstanding  performance  was  generated  by  Bruce,  Nick  Antonopoulos

and Mary Jane Robertson and their management teams, as well as by Doug Libby and

his  team  at  Seneca,  with  a  17.1%  increase  in  net  premiums  written  at  a  combined

ratio of 95%, continuing that company’s exceptional results.

Steve Brett’s Napa operations had a very good year with net premiums written up by

180% at a combined ratio of 104%. Steve deserves our gratitude for recommending

the TIG restructuring and not letting egos get in the way. The TIG continuing lines

had  a  combined  ratio  of  106%  in  2002  but,  like  all  our  operations,  will  have  an

underwriting profit focus going forward.

12

Kenneth Kwok, President of Falcon, had an excellent year in 2002 with a combined

ratio  of  99.8%  on  a  very  large  increase  in  net  premiums  written  (helped  by  the

Winterthur (Asia) acquisition discussed in our 2001 Annual Report).

(c)

Reinsurance Operations

OdysseyRe was exceptionally well positioned for 2002 as it had cut back its business

in  the  soft  markets  of  the  late  90s  and  had  already  taken  its  large  reserve  charges.

Andy Barnard and his management team had an outstanding year with a combined

ratio  of  99.1%  and  net  premiums  written  up  68%.  OdysseyRe  had  gross  premiums

written of US$1.8 billion and net written premiums of US$1.6 billion all across the

world.  Combined  with  exceptional  investment  results,  OdysseyRe  earned  21%  on

shareholders’  equity  in  2002.  All  of  OdysseyRe’s  major  divisions  had  exceptional

performance, as Mike Wacek led the Americas to a combined ratio of 99.2% and a

58.3%  increase  in  net  written  premiums,  Lucien  Pietropoli  led  Euro-Asia  to  a

combined ratio of 99.8% with an 83.4% increase in net premiums written, and Brian

Young  led  the  London  market  operations  to  a  combined  ratio  of  97.5%  with  an

87.9%  increase  in  net  premiums  written.  For  more  details  on  OdyssyeRe,  please

review its annual report which is on its website (www.odysseyre.com). Congratulations

and much gratitude to Andy Barnard and his team at OdysseyRe.

13

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Last  year,  for  the  first  time,  we  provided  a  table  that  shows  you  the  float  that  Fairfax’s

insurance and reinsurance operations generate and the cost of that float. We have updated that

table for 2002.

Year

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Underwriting
profit (loss)
($ millions)

Average float*
($ millions)

Benefit
(Cost)
of float

Average long
term Canada
treasury bond
yield

3.5

1.0

0.4

(13.3)

(12.5)

5.3

(16.9)

2.1

(16.9)

(40.9)

(50.6)

(56.2)

(311.4)

(617.1)

(698.8)

(972.1)

(5.7)

29.8

54.8

72.1

80.8

137.1

180.7

183.6

320.4

683.6

913.2

1,423.1

2,683.5

5,303.3

8,545.7

7,905.5

6,898.8

6,920.9

11.6%

1.8%

0.5%

(16.5%)

(9.1%)

2.9%

(9.2%)

0.6%

(2.5%)

(4.5%)

(3.6%)

(2.1%)

(5.9%)

(7.2%)

(8.8%)

(14.1%)

(0.1%)

(6.6%)

9.6%

10.0%

10.2%

9.9%

10.8%

9.7%

8.8%

7.8%

8.7%

8.3%

7.6%

6.5%

5.5%

5.7%

5.9%

5.8%

5.7%

6.0%

Weighted average

Fairfax weighted average financing differential: 0.6%

* Excludes runoff operations

The explanatory comments from last year apply again. 2002 is what makes the P&C industry

an exciting one, as we basically maintained our float at essentially no cost, despite putting TIG

into runoff. We believe we can have many more years like 2002.

The table below shows you the breakdown of our year-end float for the past five years.

Canadian
Insurance

U.S.
Insurance

Reinsurance

Total
Insurance
and
Reinsurance

Runoff

Total

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

784.3

767.3

814.0

1,124.9

1,637.6

4,171.3

4,834.6

3,417.2

3,173.2

2,546.4

($ millions)

3,195.8

3,338.2

2,639.7

2,628.5

2,731.1

8,151.4

–

8,151.4

8,940.1

2,159.1

11,099.2

6,870.9

1,443.9

6,926.6

2,378.4

6,915.1

2,140.6

8,314.8

9,305.0

9,055.7

14

The Canadian insurance float increased by 46% in 2002 (at no cost), the U.S. insurance float

decreased by 20% (at a cost of 2.6%) due to the removal of TIG’s discontinued business and the

reinsurance float increased by 4% (at no cost). The runoff float decreased due to the payment of

claims in the ordinary course. Taking these components together, total float decreased by 3%

to $9.1 billion at the end of 2002.

Reserving

The ravages of the soft markets of the late 1990s continued in the P&C industry as company

after  company  took  reserve  charges  in  2002.  We  took  our  reserve  charges  early  and  did  not

expand our business in the late 1990s, so that except for the reserve strengthening on the TIG

restructuring and some reserve development at OdysseyRe, our reserves held up well in 2002.

As explained last year and again this year on page 69, we have had external actuaries (two sets

of  external  actuaries  in  some  cases)  reviewing  our  reserves  since  we  began  in  1985,  and

PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP  certifies  our  reserves  (the  report  is  on  page  29).  For  additional

commentary on our reserves, please review the Provision for Claims section which begins on

page 69.

Claims Adjusting

As the table below shows, Lindsey Morden’s free cash flow (cash flow from operations less net

capital expenditures, the unusual expenses mentioned below and the working capital cost of

new branches) remained good (although down somewhat) in 2002 and its operating earnings

improved significantly over 2001, but it suffered a loss before goodwill and taxes, principally

because  of  $20.0  million  of  unusual  expenses,  consisting  of  restructuring  costs  for  the

U.S. operations ($5.8 million) and legal settlement costs ($14.2 million).

Free cash flow

Operating earnings

Loss before goodwill and taxes

2002

2001

($ millions)

17.4

18.0

20.6

12.7

(13.7)

(0.8)

Four of the five operating units (Canada, U.K., Europe and International) continued to show

strong operating results, with the U.K. leading the way with a 44.4% increase over the prior

year (some of this increase is attributable to the weakening of the Canadian dollar against the

British pound). The U.S. unit lost money in 2002 due to declining revenues in the third party

claims  administration  business  and  costs  associated  with  being  required  to  service  a  major

insurance carrier which was operating under regulatory rehabilitation. Karen Murphy and her

team have worked diligently in meeting the challenges at Lindsey Morden. For a more detailed

discussion  of  Lindsey  Morden’s  results,  please  review  its  annual  report  including  its  MD&A,

which is on its website (www.lindseymordengroupinc.com).

15

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Financial Position

As  mentioned  in  previous  annual  reports,  we  feel  our  unaudited  balance  sheet  with  Lindsey

Morden equity accounted is the best way to understand our financial position. Below we show

you our year-end financial position compared to the end of 2001.

Cash and marketable securities

Long term debt (including OdysseyRe debt)

TRG purchase consideration payable

RHINOS due February 2003

Net debt

Common shareholders’ equity

Preferred securities

OdysseyRe non-controlling interest

Total equity

Net debt/equity

Net debt/total capital

December 31, December 31,
2001

2002

($ millions)

517.7

2,221.2

324.7

214.9

2,243.1

3,351.5

326.0

424.2

4,101.7

55%

35%

833.4

2,205.8

–

217.1

1,589.5

3,042.7

343.7

361.8

3,748.2

42%

30%

Given the due date of the RHINOS and our decision in 2003 to repay them (which we have

now done), we have reclassified them as debt in both 2002 and 2001. The drop in cash and

securities, together with the increase in TRG purchase debt, has resulted in an increase in our

net  debt/equity  above  50%  –  a  self-imposed  limit.  Our  bank  covenants  are  based  on  net

debt/equity of 100% – so we have significant room in these ratios. In the MD&A on page 113,

we explain the exact definition of the net debt/equity covenant in our banking agreements and

the  flexibility  that  we  have.  Having  said  all  of  this,  it  is  a  top  priority  to  reduce  our  net

debt/equity ratio significantly in 2003/2004 – profits, of course, will help!

In the MD&A, we discuss our cash requirements during 2003 in detail (beginning on page 111)

and  also  provide  a  line-by-line  description  of  all  major  assets  and  liabilities  on  our  balance

sheet (beginning on page 66). We feel confident that the resources available to us, including

our cash and marketable securities, unused bank lines, dividend capacity and contractual cash

receipts (such as management fees) are more than sufficient to pay our interest and overhead

expenses in 2003 and to repay all obligations due in 2003, even if none of those obligations are

rolled over or refinanced at maturity. Our experience in the past three years has underlined the

importance of a strong balance sheet with significant cash always maintained in the holding

company. In this, the virtuous part of the insurance cycle, we expect to rebuild our balance

sheet (after the battering it has taken in the last few years) so that at year-end we have at least

$500 million in cash in the holding company.

Our financial position is definitely not as strong as it has been, but it continues to benefit from

the following factors:

1. We have no bank debt. Our long term debt consists of seven public debentures with

terms to maturity (after the one due in December) of 4 to 35 years and low interest

16

rates (6.875% to 8.30%), two small debentures issued to vendors, OdysseyRe’s debt

and certain debt assumed with the acquisition of TIG. All of the public debentures

were issued under a single trust indenture containing no restrictive covenants, thus

providing  us  with  great  flexibility.  Late  in  2002,  we  cancelled  the  swap  from  fixed

interest rates into floating interest rates and are amortizing the gain of $94 million

over the remaining life of the debentures.

2. We have $740 million of unsecured, committed bank lines (of which $386 million

has  been  used  for  letters  of  credit  to  support  internal  reinsurance)  with  excellent

covenants. These bank lines reduce annually over the period to September 2006. We

intend to discuss the renegotiation of these lines with our banks after releasing our

annual report. Please see the details beginning on page 111 in the MD&A.

3.

Our net long term debt is approximately 5 times our net earnings in 2002 – higher

than  our  objective  of  less  than  three  times  our  normalized  earnings  base.  Our

earnings  base  continues  to  be  well  diversified  among  many  insurance  and

reinsurance  companies  and  geographically  from  Canadian,  U.S.  and  international

sources of income.

4.

Available  cash  flow  at  the  Fairfax  (holding  company)  level  from  dividends,

management fees and interest income should cover our administrative and interest

expenses  and  preferred  dividends  by  one  to  two  times.  This  is  based  on  normal

dividend payouts from our insurance companies, which are less than our maximum

dividend-paying  capacity.  In  2002,  we  took  substantially  less  than  our  normal

dividend  payouts.  In  2003,  our  maximum  dividend  capacity  is  $670  million

compared  with  $232  million  in  2002.  Note  Fairfax’s  combined  holding  company

earnings statement on page 123.

5. With  more  than  $500  million  in  cash  and  marketable  securities  in  the  holding

company  at  year-end, we  could  pay  our  administrative  and  interest  expenses  and

preferred dividends at Fairfax, after the receipt of contractual management fees, with

no dividends from any of our insurance or reinsurance companies, for three to four

years – our management holding company survival ratio!

6.

As discussed on page 110 in the MD&A, with the exception of TIG all our companies

are well capitalized with solvency margins in excess of mandated regulatory levels.

17

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Investments

Equity markets declined significantly in 2002 and in the three years ending in 2002, as shown

in  the  table  below,  while  long  U.S.  treasury  yields  also  dropped  significantly  from  5.47%  at

year-end 2001 to 4.77% by year-end 2002.

S&P 500

NASDAQ

S&P/TSX

FTSE (London)

CAC (France)

DAX (Germany)

Cumulative %
Change from
December 31, 1999
to December 31, 2002

2002
% Change

–23.3

–31.5

–14.0

–24.5

–33.8

–43.9

–40.1

–67.2

–21.4

–43.1

–48.6

–58.4

Fairfax (Equities)

+25.0

+100.5

As shown, the cumulative drop since December 31, 1999 has been significant. Not to crow, but

we did say in our 1999 Annual Report: ‘‘We do not believe in ‘‘New Eras’’ and feel that most

participants in today’s equity markets in the U.S. will suffer significant permanent loss. It is very

likely that the high price for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones reached in this cycle (which may have

already taken place) will not be seen again in the next ten years – not unlike the Nikkei Dow

that peaked in 1989 at 39,000 and is still trading around 20,000 currently, ten years later.’’

Another  danger  that  is  looming  over  the  horizon  is  the  exponential  increase  in  the  use  of

derivatives. The total value of all unregulated derivatives is estimated to be US$128 trillion (not

a  typo) – roughly  four  times  the  underlying  assets  of  the  global  economy.  We  have  avoided

companies that are highly exposed to derivatives. It is another catastrophe waiting to happen!

Our  equity  return  (realized  gains  and  losses  and  the  change  in  unrealized  gains  and  losses,

excluding dividends) was 25% in 2002 and a cumulative 101% for the three-year period ended

December  31,  2002.  We  hope  we  can  achieve  these  absolute  returns  in  more  hospitable

markets!

Our unrealized gains (losses) as of year-end are as follows:

Bonds

Preferred stocks

Common stocks

Strategic investments*

Real estate

*Hub, Zenith National and Advent

2002

2001

($ millions)

187.9

(321.1)

(3.3)

51.8

(34.3)

5.8

(0.4)

39.9

54.1

4.4

207.9

(223.1)

18

Given the battering the markets took in 2002, we were pleased to end the year with unrealized

gains  of  $208  million  after  realizing  gains  of  $738  million  (including  $32 million  on  the

repurchase of some of our notes and the trust preferred securities of a subsidiary) and earning a

total return on our average investments of 11% for the year. Please see the table on page 108 in

the MD&A, which shows that in the past three years, 2000 to 2002, the total return (interest

and  dividend  income,  net  realized  gains  and  net  change  in  unrealized  gains)  was

approximately 12%, 7% and 11% respectively. Our substantial amount of cash and short term

investments  and  the  high  quality  of  bonds  in  the  portfolios  allow  us  to  take  advantages  of

attractive investment opportunities.

Our $738 million in realized gains in 2002 was the highest in our history but not much higher

as  a  percent  of  investments  than  the  3.8%  that  we  have  realized  on  average  over  the  past

17 years. While many market participants don’t give us much credit for these realized gains

because  they  are  unpredictable,  these  gains  increase  capital  in  our  insurance  companies  and

increase  book  value  per  share.  Over  the  past  17  years,  net  realized  gains  have  increased

shareholders’ capital by $2.3 billion before income taxes – we will always opt for a high but

‘‘irregular’’  return  over  a  lower  but  ‘‘consistent’’  return.  Please  also  note  that  our  insurance

companies in the United States, where we realized most of our gains, currently pay no income

tax. The team at Hamblin Watsa had another outstanding year!

In our 2001 Annual Report, we said the possibilities for realized gains continued to be:

1.

$5.5 billion invested in ‘‘put’’ bonds. In 2002, we realized gains of $231 million by

selling about  half  of  our  ‘‘put’’  bonds  –  quite  often  to  the  short  date  as  short  and

intermediate  rates  (3-10  years)  declined  significantly.  To  reduce  credit  risk  during

these  uncertain  times,  we  reinvested  the  proceeds  primarily  in  U.S.  Treasury

securities. In a number of cases, following the sale of the bonds, we elected to acquire

the  imbedded  call  option  related  to  the  long  maturity  date  of  these  securities.  In

effect, this option gives us the ability to ‘‘call back’’ the underlying long bonds at par

just  prior  to  the  original  put  dates.  In  total,  we  have  acquired  call  options  on

approximately US$500 million par value of long term bonds at an average price of

$2.15 per $100 of par value (a total cost of about US$11 million). The average life of

the  options  is  2.75  years  and  the  average  term  of  the  bonds  to  their  final  long

maturity date is 26.1 years. In acquiring the options, we retained no credit exposure

to the underlying corporate issuers.

2.

S&P 500 puts. In 2002, we realized $108 million in net gains from our S&P 500 puts

and  $45  million  from  puts  on  a  basket  of  technology  stocks  and  from  other  short

positions.  The  S&P  500  puts  are  now  closed  out.  Since  inception,  we  have  realized

approximately  $125  million  in  net  gains  from  our  various  short  positions,  mainly

from puts on the basket of technology stocks.

3.

Common stock investments. In 2002, we realized gross gains from common stocks of

$257  million.  After  gross  realized  losses  of  $9  million,  we  realized  net  gains  from

common  stocks  of  $248  million.  Besides  the  net  gains  from  our  short  positions

described above, our common stock gains included $33 million in White Mountains

Insurance Group (a 52% gain), $27 million in Bharat Petroleum (a 128% gain), $21

19

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

million in Hindustan Petroleum (a 53% gain), $9 million in Aon (a 44% gain) and

$9 million in Leon’s Furniture (an 81% gain). We have almost $1.1 billion invested in

common stock, on which we expect to make significant gains over the long term.

Our  bond/common  stock  mix  has  not  changed  much  in  the  last  few  years.  We  have  only

approximately 7% of our investment portfolio in common shares (excluding Hub, Zenith and

Advent), 17% in cash and short term securities and the rest in high quality bonds (currently

approximately 67% of our bonds are U.S., Canadian and European government bonds and an

additional 27% are investment grade corporate bonds). In our November 18, 2002 letter to you

(included as Appendix A), we suggested to you that we have protected our investment portfolio

in the last few years from a 1 in 50 year or 1 in 100 year stock market decline, not unlike the

catastrophe  protection  we  buy  for  our  insurance  operations.  With  stock  markets  in  North

America  and  Europe  down  about  50%  from  their  highs,  a  major  stock  market  decline  has

already  taken  place.  However,  as  we  said  in  the  letter,  we  still  see  major  risks  in  the  broad

indices and in the U.S. economy. The S&P 500 still sells at 28x earnings and 3.6x book value

while  the  U.S.  economy  continues  to  be  anemic  in  spite  of  record  low  short  interest  rates.

Mr. Greenspan may have run out of ammunition!

Our conclusion from that letter remains the same. ‘‘We think the risks that we have discussed

in our annual reports (a run on mutual funds, bonds collateralized with consumer debt) and

the  more  recent  ones,  including  rising  unfunded  pension  liabilities,  continue  to  be  very

significant.  Having  said  that,  as  long  term  value-oriented  investors,  these  financial  markets

(where  fundamental  analysis  is  again  very  important)  are  markets  in  which  we  have

historically excelled – and we have more than $1,100 per share of investments to work with!’’

By  country,  our  common  stock  investments  at  December  31,  2002  were  as  follows,  not  too

different from December 31, 2001:

Canada

Japan

U.S.

Other

Miscellaneous

Carrying Value

Market Value

($ millions)

217.2

161.9

222.7

471.8

223.4

183.4

247.9

470.7

1,073.6

1,125.4

Please  review  page  122  which  is  an  unaudited  unconsolidated  balance  sheet  showing  you

where your money is invested. Based on that statement, on which our subsidiaries are carried

on  the  equity  basis  (as  described  on  page  117),  the  carrying  value  of  our  subsidiaries  as  at

December 31, 2002 is $667 million for our Canadian insurance companies, $1.477 billion for

Crum  &  Forster,  $1.209  billion  for  OdysseyRe  (equivalent  to  US$15.94  per  share  for  our

48  million  shares  of  OdysseyRe),  and  $1.389  billion  for  our  runoff  companies,  including

IIC/TIG. We think that these carrying values conservatively value our insurance, reinsurance

and runoff companies.

20

We paid a modest $1.50 per share dividend for the reasons discussed in the 2000 annual report.

We  listed  on  the  NYSE  on  December  18,  2002  as  we  suggested  we  might.  We  were  warmly

welcomed and on January 14, 2003, the NYSE reported that there were almost 2 million shares

shorted! Soon after, there was a spate of negative articles and reports on Fairfax, including a

report containing seriously misleading commentary on Fairfax’s reserves.

We have always tried to give very full disclosure in our annual reports, and we expand that

disclosure if we discover that there are areas where enhanced disclosure would be useful (this

year,  for  instance,  our  MD&A  includes  significantly  expanded  disclosure  on  our  ORC  Re

subsidiary and our asbestos and pollution reserves). Because we are always concerned for our

long term investors, we have decided to have conference calls after our earnings releases. There

will  continue  to  be  no  earnings  guidance  –  quarterly  or  annually  –  but  we  will  be  open  to

answering  any  questions  that  shareholders  or  others  may  have.  Although  we  are  very  much

against quarterly conference calls because of their short term focus and promotional nature, we

were guided by the greater concern that our investors not suffer from misleading information.

We also plan to continue to have an annual investor meeting in New York, likely in the fall.

As in past annual reports, we have listed for you the risks in our business as simply as we could

(this  year  beginning  on  page  114).  They  are  many  and  very  real.  Your  management  team  is

constantly focusing on these risks and trying to minimize them. Similar to last year, I want to

highlight the ones on reinsurance recoverables, the future income tax asset and ratings as well

as claims reserves, including asbestos and pollution reserves. We have extensive disclosure and

discussion  on  all  of  these  risks  in  the  MD&A,  which  we  encourage  you  to  review.  Although

there can be no guarantees that these risks will not hurt us – that’s why they’re risks – you can

be  certain  that  we  face  them  analytically  and  honestly  and  that  we  have  some  of  the  best

people in the industry, including particularly the extensive TRG team under the leadership of

Dennis Gibbs, working with us every day to minimize them.

The strengths that we have at Fairfax are formidable and have not changed from the ones I

listed for you in the 2001 annual report. Your management team has truly been tested in the

last  few  years  and  has  every  intention  to  do  well  by  you  (as  we  did  in  spades  in  2002),

irrespective of circumstances. As discussed earlier in this letter, our businesses – our insurance,

reinsurance  and  investment  operations  –  are  performing  magnificently.  While  we  may  have

answered  many  of  your  questions  in  the  last  two  conference  calls,  we  will  very  much  look

forward  to  seeing  you  at  the  annual  meeting  in  Toronto  at  9:30  a.m.  on  April  14,  2003  in

Room 105 of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Winslow  Bennett,  one  of  the  founding  shareholders  of  Sixty  Two  (Fairfax’s  controlling

shareholder) and, with the exception of Robbert Hartog, our longest serving director, will be

retiring this year. Winslow has supported us with much enthusiasm over the past 18 years and

his wise counsel will be very much missed by all of us. We wish Winslow and Betsy the very

best in all they do. Fortunately for us, Winslow will be replaced by another Bennett — his son

Frank.  Frank  is  an  entrepreneur  and  as  President  of  Artesian  Management,  a  private  equity

investment firm which he founded in 1988, has contributed to the success of many companies.

We welcome him warmly to our Board.

21

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Due to possible conflicts arising from his position as Chairman and CEO of Arch Reinsurance,

Paul Ingrey retired from our Board during the year, but we hope to welcome him back when he

retires again.

I want to again highlight our website for you (www.fairfax.ca) and remind you that all our 18

annual  reports  are  readily  available  there,  as  well  as  links  to  the  informative  websites  of  our

various individual companies. Our press releases are immediately posted to our website. Our

quarterly reports for 2003 will be posted to our website on the following days after the market

close: first quarter – May 2, second quarter – August 1 and third quarter – October 31. Our 2003

annual report will be posted on March 5, 2004.

I would like to thank the Board and the management and employees of all our companies for

the outstanding results achieved in 2002. We look forward to even better ones in 2003.

March 3, 2003

V. Prem Watsa

Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer

22

(This page intentionally left blank)

23

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheets
as at December 31, 2002 and 2001

Assets
Cash and short term investments *******************************
Marketable securities *******************************************
Accounts receivable and other **********************************
Recoverable from reinsurers (including recoverables on paid

2002
(Cdn$ millions)

2001

481.2

36.5

751.5

81.9

3,589.1

3,405.2

losses – $984.5; 2001 – $1,042.5) *****************************

11,992.9

12,802.1

Portfolio investments

Subsidiary cash and short term investments (market value –

$2,694.3; 2001 – $2,254.3) ***********************************
Bonds (market value – $11,869.8; 2001 – $11,424.2) *************
Preferred stocks (market value – $249.7; 2001 – $126.4) **********
Common stocks (market value – $1,125.4; 2001 – $918.8) ********
Investments in Hub, Zenith National and Advent (market value –
$525.4; 2001 – $556.3) ***************************************
Real estate (market value – $38.2; 2001 – $82.7) *****************

16,099.7

17,040.7

2,694.3

2,254.3

11,681.9

11,745.3

253.0

1,073.6

559.7

32.4

126.8

878.9

502.2

78.3

Total (market value – $16,502.8; 2001 – $15,362.7) **************

16,294.9

15,585.8

Deferred premium acquisition costs *****************************
Future income taxes *******************************************
Premises and equipment ***************************************
Goodwill ******************************************************
Other assets ***************************************************

593.4

1,544.0

176.5

292.8

109.2

518.0

1,718.8

198.1

274.5

102.8

35,110.5

35,438.7

See accompanying notes.

Signed on behalf of the Board

Director

Director

24

Liabilities
Lindsey Morden bank indebtedness ******************************
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities **************************
Funds withheld payable to reinsurers ****************************

Provision for claims*********************************************
Unearned premiums ********************************************
Long term debt *************************************************
Purchase consideration payable **********************************
Trust preferred securities of subsidiaries **************************

2002
(Cdn$ millions)

2001

41.9

2,019.4

1,516.1

43.2

1,841.7

1,793.1

3,577.4

3,678.0

21,165.1

22,085.8

3,300.4

2,342.4

324.7

340.9

2,645.9

2,330.8

–

360.8

27,473.5

27,423.3

Non-controlling interests ****************************************

508.1

1,043.3

Excess of net assets acquired over purchase price paid *************

–

51.4

Contingencies and commitments

Shareholders’ Equity
Common stock *************************************************
Preferred stock**************************************************
Retained earnings***********************************************
Currency translation account ************************************

2,235.2

2,261.4

200.0

1,244.4

(128.1)

200.0

796.2

(14.9)

3,551.5

3,242.7

35,110.5

35,438.7

See accompanying notes.

25

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Consolidated Statements of Earnings
for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

2002

2001

2000

(Cdn$ millions – except
per share amounts)

Revenue

Gross premiums written ****************************

8,128.6

6,838.0

6,054.3

Net premiums written ******************************

6,338.5

5,045.1

4,566.5

Net premiums earned*******************************
Interest and dividends ******************************
Realized gains on investments***********************
Realized gain on OdysseyRe IPO*********************
Claims fees ****************************************

Expenses

Losses on claims ***********************************
Operating expenses *********************************
Commissions, net **********************************
Interest expense ************************************
Other costs and restructuring charges ****************
Swiss Re premiums *********************************
Kingsmead losses ***********************************
Negative goodwill **********************************

Earnings (loss) from operations before income

taxes *********************************************
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes ***************

Earnings (loss) from operations before

extraordinary item ******************************
Negative goodwill ************************************

Net earnings (loss) before non-controlling

interests ******************************************
Non-controlling interests *****************************

6,110.1
657.7
737.7
–
456.8

4,806.7
680.8
162.3
51.2
424.7

4,610.7
818.1
382.8
–
376.9

7,962.3

6,125.7

6,188.5

4,711.9
1,457.4
1,109.6
136.7
110.0
4.2
–
–

4,062.8
1,358.2
1,041.4
168.6
49.1
143.6
116.7
(78.6)

3,771.4
1,263.5
885.2
179.6
30.2
167.2
33.0
(108.7)

7,529.8

6,861.8

6,221.4

432.5
235.7

196.8
298.5

(736.1)
(386.6)

(32.9)
(186.3)

(349.5)
–

153.4
–

495.3
(79.6)

(349.5)
3.5

153.4
(16.0)

Net earnings (loss) *********************************

415.7

(346.0)

137.4

Net earnings (loss) per share before

extraordinary item and after non-controlling
interests ******************************************
Net earnings (loss) per share **********************

$ 7.89
$ 28.78

$ (28.04)
$ (28.04)

$
$

9.41
9.41

See accompanying notes.

26

Consolidated Statements of Retained Earnings
for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

2002

2001

2000

(Cdn$ millions)

Retained earnings – beginning of year ***********
Change in accounting for negative goodwill *********

796.2
51.4

1,167.4
–

1,049.7
–

Retained earnings as restated – beginning of

year **********************************************
Net earnings (loss) for the year **********************
Excess over stated value of shares purchased for

cancellation**************************************
Common share dividends ***************************
Preferred share dividends ***************************
(Dividend tax) recovery *****************************

847.6
415.7

1,167.4
(346.0)

1,049.7
137.4

–
(14.3)
(13.0)
8.4

–
–
(13.0)
(12.2)

(6.3)
–
(13.4)
–

Retained earnings – end of year ******************

1,244.4

796.2

1,167.4

See accompanying notes.

27

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

Operating activities

Earnings (loss) before non-controlling interests
Amortization *********************************
Future income taxes **************************
Negative goodwill*****************************
Gains on investments *************************

Increase (decrease) in:

Provision for claims ***************************
Unearned premiums **************************
Accounts receivable and other *****************
Recoverable from reinsurers *******************
Funds withheld payable to reinsurers***********
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities ********
Other ****************************************
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities ***

Investing activities

Investments – purchases***********************
– sales ***************************
Sale of marketable securities *******************
Purchase of capital assets **********************
Investments in Hub, Zenith National and

Advent *************************************
Purchase of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired ***
Non-controlling interests **********************
Proceeds on OdysseyRe IPO *******************
Cash provided by investing activities*************

Financing activities

Subordinate voting shares *********************
Trust preferred securities of subsidiary **********
Issue of OdysseyRe convertible debt ************
Long term debt – advances ********************
Long term debt – repayment ******************
Bank indebtedness ****************************
Common share dividends *********************
Preferred share dividends **********************
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities ***
Foreign currency translation *********************
Increase (decrease) in cash resources ********
Cash resources – beginning of year **********
Cash resources – end of year *****************

See accompanying notes.

2002

2001

2000

(Cdn$ millions)

495.3
67.4
180.4
(298.5)
(737.7)

(293.1)

(773.9)
653.1
(213.0)
708.0
(258.6)
192.5
187.4

202.4

(8,413.6)
8,639.7
45.2
(37.6)

(45.7)
(82.2)
(10.9)
–

94.9

(26.2)
(6.4)
167.3
–
(135.9)
(1.3)
(14.3)
(13.0)

(29.8)

(97.8)

(349.5)
70.4
(384.8)
(78.6)
(213.5)

(956.0)

661.3
351.1
(330.5)
(1,026.6)
368.8
298.6
(278.1)

153.4
42.2
(197.4)
(108.7)
(382.8)

(493.3)

(720.4)
(122.5)
(268.9)
(983.3)
(31.1)
(155.6)
98.9

(911.4)

(2,676.2)

(1,802.3)
2,511.2
13.3
(66.2)

(92.6)
40.3
–
436.9

(4,420.7)
7,414.9
4.2
(34.7)

(17.7)
(83.3)
–
–

1,040.6

2,862.7

248.5
(54.1)
–
231.9
(11.6)
0.9
–
(13.0)

402.6

68.3

(59.7)
–
–
–
(166.3)
(1.3)
–
(13.4)

(240.7)

–

(54.2)
2,459.9

2,405.7

169.7
3,005.8

3,175.5

600.1
2,405.7

3,005.8

Cash resources consist of cash and short term investments, including subsidiary cash and short term

investments.  Short  term  investments  are  readily  convertible  into  cash  and  have  maturities  of  three

months or less.

28

Auditors’ Report to the Shareholders
We  have  audited  the  consolidated  balance  sheets  of  Fairfax  Financial  Holdings  Limited  as  at
December  31,  2002  and  2001  and  the  consolidated  statements  of  earnings,  retained  earnings  and
cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2002. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those
standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  an  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  whether  the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the
financial position of the company as at December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the results of its operations
and  its  cash  flows  for  each  of  the  years  in  the  three  year  period  ended  December  31,  2002  in
accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants
Toronto, Canada
February 10, 2003

Comment by Auditors for U.S. Readers on Canada-U.S. Reporting Difference
In  the  United  States,  reporting  standards  for  auditors  require  the  addition  of  an  explanatory
paragraph (following the opinion paragraph) when there is a change in accounting principles that
has  a  material  effect  on  the  comparability  of  the  company’s  financial  statements,  such  as  the
changes  described  in  note  2  to  the  financial  statements  relating  to  goodwill.  Our  report  to  the
shareholders dated February 10, 2003 is expressed in accordance with Canadian reporting standards
which do not require a reference to such a change in accounting principles in the auditors’ report
when the change is properly accounted for and adequately disclosed in the financial statements.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants
Toronto, Canada
February 10, 2003

Valuation Actuary’s Report
I  have  reviewed  management’s  valuation,  including  management’s  selection  of  appropriate
assumptions  and  methods,  of  the  policy  liabilities  of  the  subsidiary  insurance  and  reinsurance
companies of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited in its consolidated balance sheet as at December 31,
2002 and their change as reflected in its consolidated statement of earnings for the year then ended,
in accordance with Canadian accepted actuarial practice.
In my opinion, management’s valuation is appropriate, except as noted in the following paragraph,
and the consolidated financial statements fairly present its results.
Under Canadian accepted actuarial practice, the valuation of policy liabilities reflects the time value
of money. Management has chosen not to reflect the time value of money in its valuation of the
policy liabilities.

Richard Gauthier, FCIA, FCAS
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Toronto, Canada
February 10, 2003

29

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

(in Cdn$ millions except per share amounts and as otherwise indicated)

1.

Business Operations

The  company  is  a  financial  services  holding  company  which,  through  its  subsidiaries,  is

principally engaged in property and casualty insurance conducted on a direct and reinsurance

basis, investment management and insurance claims management.

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  Canadian  generally  accepted

accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect

reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as

at  the  date  of  the  financial  statements  and  the  reported  amounts  of  revenue  and  expenses

during  the  periods  covered  by  the  financial  statements.  The  principal  financial  statement

components  subject  to  measurement  uncertainty  include  the  provision  for  claims  (note  4),

other-than-temporary  declines  in  the  value  of  investments  (note  3),  the  allowance  for

unrecoverable  reinsurance  (note  8),  the  carrying  value  of  future  tax  assets  (note  9)  and  the

valuation of goodwill (note 2). Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Principles of consolidation

The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  accounts  of  the  company  and  all  of  its

subsidiaries:

Canadian Insurance

Reinsurance group

Commonwealth Insurance Company

Odyssey Re Holdings Corp. (OdysseyRe)

Federated Insurance Holdings of Canada Ltd.

Lombard General Insurance Company

of Canada

Markel Insurance Company of Canada

CRC (Bermuda) Reinsurance Limited

U.S. Insurance

Runoff

ORC Re Limited

RiverStone Insurance (UK) Limited

Sphere Drake Insurance Limited

(Sphere Drake)

TIG Specialty Insurance Company (TIG)

Crum & Forster Holdings, Inc. (C&F)

Wentworth Insurance Company Ltd.

Falcon Insurance Company Limited

Old Lyme Insurance Company of

Rhode Island, Inc.

Ranger Insurance Company

Other

Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. (investment management)

Lindsey Morden Group Inc. (Lindsey Morden) (insurance claims management)

RiverStone Management Limited (runoff claims management)

All  subsidiaries  are  wholly-owned  except  for  OdysseyRe  Holdings  with  a  voting  and  equity

interest of 73.8% (2001 – 73.7%), and Lindsey Morden with a 75.0% equity and 89.5% voting

interest  (2001  –  66.5%  and  85.9%).  The  company  has  investments  in  Hub  International

30

Limited with a 28.7% (2001 – 36.8%) equity interest and Advent Capital (Holdings) PLC with a

46.8%  interest,  which  are  accounted  for  on  the  equity  basis.  The  company  also  has  an

investment in Zenith National Insurance Corp. (‘‘Zenith’’) with a 42.0% (2001 – 42.0%) equity

interest which is accounted for on the cost basis, as the company does not currently have the

ability  to  exercise  significant  influence  over  Zenith.  In  1999,  at  the  time  of  the  company’s

initial investment in Zenith, it entered into a Standstill Agreement with Zenith whereby the

company  would  have  no  Board  representation  and  is  precluded  from,  directly  or  indirectly,

acting, alone or with others, to seek to acquire or affect control or influence the management,

Board of Directors or policies of Zenith. This agreement will remain in effect until the earlier of

October  25,  2004  and  the  date  on  which  the  current  President  and  Chairman  of  Zenith  no

longer holds those positions. Further, Fairfax entered into a Proxy Agreement dated March 28,

2002, giving an independent trustee the proxy to vote the company’s shares of Zenith in the

same  proportion  as  the  votes  cast  by  all  other  voting  shareholders  of  Zenith  (except  in  the

event  of  a  hostile  proxy  contest,  when  the  trustee  will  vote  as  recommended  by  the

management of Zenith).

Acquisitions  are  accounted  for  by  the  purchase  method,  whereby  the  results  of  acquired

companies are included only from the date of acquisition. Divestitures are included up to the

date of disposal.

Premiums

Insurance  and  reinsurance  premiums  are  taken  into  income  evenly  throughout  the  terms  of

the related policies.

Deferred premium acquisition costs

Certain costs, consisting of brokers’ commissions and premium taxes, of acquiring insurance

premiums  are  deferred,  to  the  extent  that  they  are  considered  recoverable,  and  charged  to

income  as  the  premiums  are  earned.  The  ultimate  recoverability  of  deferred  premium

acquisition costs is determined without regard to investment income.

Investments

Bonds are carried at amortized cost providing for the amortization of the discount or premium

on  a  yield  to  maturity  basis.  Preferred  and  common  stocks  are  carried  at  cost.  Real  estate  is

carried  at  cost.  When  there  has  been  a  loss  in  value  of  an  investment  that  is  other  than

temporary,  the  investment  is  written  down  to  its  estimated  net  realizable  value.  Such

writedowns are reflected in realized gains (losses) on investments. At December 31, 2002, the

aggregate provision for losses on investments was $31.2 (2001 – $37.4).

The  company  purchases  foreign  currency  forward  contracts  to  hedge  its  foreign  equity

portfolio. At December 31, 2002, the company held Yen 10.2 billion (2001 – Yen 11.6 billion)

of such contracts, maturing in 2003. Once the securities are sold, the contracts are closed out

and any gain or loss is then included in realized gains (losses) on investments. Gains or losses

on  contracts  in  excess  of  hedging  requirements  are  recorded  in  earnings  as  they  arise.

Subsequent to year-end, 2.5 billion in Yen contracts were closed out at a gain of $1.2.

31

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Provision for claims

Claim provisions are established by the case method as claims are reported. For reinsurance,

the provision for claims is based on reports and individual case estimates received from ceding

companies. The estimates are regularly reviewed and updated as additional information on the

estimated claims becomes known and any resulting adjustments are included in earnings. A

provision  is  also  made  for  management’s  calculation  of  factors  affecting  the  future

development of claims including claims incurred but not reported (IBNR) based on the volume

of business currently in force and the historical experience on claims.

Translation of foreign currencies

Assets  and  liabilities  in  foreign  currencies  are  translated  into  Canadian  dollars  at  year-end

exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are translated at the exchange rates in effect at the date

incurred.  Realized  gains  and  losses  on  foreign  exchange  transactions  are  recognized  in  the

statements of earnings.

The operations of the company’s subsidiaries (principally in the United States and the United

Kingdom)  are  self-sustaining.  As  a  result,  the  assets  and  liabilities  of  these  subsidiaries  are

translated  at  the  year-end  rates  of  exchange.  Revenue  and  expenses  are  translated  at  the

average rate of exchange for the year. The company enters into foreign currency contracts from

time  to  time  to  hedge  the  foreign  currency  exposure  related  to  its  net  investments  in  self-

sustaining foreign operations. Such contracts are translated at the year-end rates of exchange.

At December 31, 2002, the company had foreign currency contracts hedging its self-sustaining

subsidiaries, maturing as follows:

2003

2004

2006

2007

2008

Notional Value
(US$)

1,325

130

200

330

75

2,060

Certain of the contracts due in 2008 have an early termination option which reduces the term

from ten years to five years. If exercised, an additional US$75 in notional value would mature

in 2003. Subsequent to year-end US$650 of the contracts maturing in 2003 have been closed

out by the company at a cost of $3.4.

Goodwill

Prior  to  January  1,  2002,  the  excess  of  purchase  cost  over  the  fair  value  of  the  net  assets  of

acquired businesses was amortized on the straight line basis over their estimated useful lives

which  ranged  from  ten  years  for  Hamblin  Watsa  Investment  Counsel  Ltd.  and  insurance

company acquisitions to forty years for Lindsey Morden Group Inc.

In  addition,  the  excess  of  the  fair  value  of  net  assets  acquired  over  the  purchase  price  paid

(negative goodwill) for acquired businesses was amortized to earnings over periods of three to

32

six years. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2000, all negative goodwill was amortized to earnings

on  a  straight  line  basis  over  ten  years.  In  2000,  the  company  carried  out  a  comprehensive

review of the remaining useful life of the negative goodwill for each acquisition which resulted

in  a  change  in  the  various  amortization  periods.  This  change  in  estimate  was  applied  on  a

prospective  basis  effective  at  the  beginning  of  the  fourth  quarter  of  2000,  resulting  in  an

increase in negative goodwill amortization of $79.2 for the year ended December 31, 2000.

Effective  January  1,  2002,  in  accordance  with  changes  to  Canadian  generally  accepted

accounting  principles  (GAAP),  goodwill  is  no  longer  being  amortized  to  earnings  over  its

estimated useful life. The carrying value of goodwill will be charged to earnings if and to the

extent  that  it  is  determined  that  an  impairment  in  value  exists.  The  company  assesses  the

carrying value of goodwill based on the underlying discounted cash flows and operating results

of  its  subsidiaries.  Management  has  compared  the  carrying  value  of  goodwill  balances  as  at

December 31, 2002 and the estimated fair values of the underlying operations and concluded

that there was no impairment in the value of goodwill. The estimated fair values are sensitive

to the cash flow projections and discount rates used in the valuation.

In addition, effective January 1, 2002, the excess of the fair value of net assets acquired over the

purchase  price  paid  for  acquired  businesses  (negative  goodwill)  is  no  longer  amortized  to

earnings. Consequently, effective January 1, 2002, the company’s negative goodwill balance of

$51.4  was  added  to  shareholders’  equity  as  an  adjustment  to  opening  retained  earnings.

Negative goodwill arising on the acquisition during the year is recognized as an extraordinary

item.

Had  the  above-mentioned  changes  in  accounting  policy  been  adopted  retroactively,  their

impact on the prior periods would have been as follows:

(a) negative  goodwill  amortization  would  have  reduced  net  earnings  by  $78.6  and

$108.7 for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 respectively; and

(b)

goodwill amortization would have increased net earnings by $16.2 and $11.7 for the

years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 respectively.

These changes would have resulted in a reduction of net earnings of $62.4 and $97.0 and in a

reduction  of  previously  reported  earnings  per  share  and  earnings  per  share  before

extraordinary item and after non-controlling interests of $4.71 and $7.36, resulting in adjusted

earnings (loss) per share and adjusted earnings per share before extraordinary item and after

non-controlling  interests  of  $(32.75)  and  $2.05  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2001  and

2000  respectively.  The  net  impact  on  shareholders’  equity  at  December  31,  2002  after  these

changes in accounting policies was an increase of $51.4, as described above.

Reinsurance

The company reflects third party reinsurance balances on the balance sheet on a gross basis to

indicate  the  extent  of  credit  risk  related  to  third  party  reinsurance  and  its  obligations  to

policyholders  and  on  a  net  basis  in  the  statement  of  earnings  to  indicate  the  results  of  its

retention of premiums written.

33

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Income taxes

Income taxes reflect the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between

the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases based on tax rates which are

expected to be in effect when the asset or liability is settled.

3.

Investment Information

Portfolio investments comprise:

Subsidiary cash and short term

investments

Bonds

Canadian – government

– corporate

U.S. – government

– corporate

Other – government

– corporate

Preferred stocks

Canadian

U.S.

Common stocks

Canadian

U.S.

Other

Hub, Zenith National and

Advent

Real estate

2002

2001

Carrying
Value

Estimated
Fair Value

Carrying
Value

Estimated
Fair Value

2,694.3

2,694.3

2,254.3

2,254.3

708.6

509.8

6,629.1

3,282.4

534.2

17.8

204.9

48.1

217.2

222.7

633.7

559.7

32.4

745.7

528.9

6,602.9

3,440.8

525.7

25.8

205.1

44.6

223.4

247.9

654.1

525.4

38.2

723.0

395.2

4,527.3

4,635.6

1,419.0

45.2

126.8

–

175.5

134.8

568.6

502.2

78.3

739.3

388.4

4,369.1

4,482.7

1,399.2

45.5

126.4

–

173.7

204.9

540.2

556.3

82.7

16,294.9

16,502.8

15,585.8

15,362.7

The  estimated  fair  values  of  debt  securities  and  preferred  and  common  stocks  are  based  on

quoted market values.

As at December 31, 2002, the net unrealized gains were comprised of gross unrealized gains of

$453.9  and  gross  unrealized  losses  of  $246.0  (2001  –  $324.8  and  $547.9)  respectively.

Management has reviewed currently available information regarding those investments whose

estimated fair value is less than carrying value at December 31, 2002 and has determined that

the carrying values are expected to be recovered. Debt securities whose carrying value exceeds

market value can be held until maturity. Preferred and common stock investments have been

reviewed to ensure that corporate performance expectations have not changed significantly to

adversely affect the market value of these securities other than on a temporary basis.

The company’s subsidiaries have pledged cash and investments of $3.8 billion as security for

their  own  obligations  to  pay  claims  or  make  premium  payments (these  pledges  are  either

34

direct or to support letters of credit). These pledges are in the normal course of business and are

generally released when the payment obligation is fulfilled.

Liquidity and Interest Rate Risk

Maturity profile as at December 31, 2002 and 2001:

Within 1
Year

1 to 5
Years

6 to 10
Years

Over 10
Years

2002
Total

Bonds (carrying value)

$

782.7

$3,165.8

$1,693.9

$6,039.5

$11,681.9

Effective interest rate

Within 1
Year

1 to 5
Years

6 to 10
Years

Over 10
Years

5.5%

2001
Total

Bonds (carrying value)

$

530.1

$4,247.7

$4,500.2

$2,467.3

$11,745.3

Effective interest rate

5.7%

Bonds are classified at the earliest of the available maturity dates.

Investment Income

Interest and dividends:

Cash and short term investments

Bonds

Preferred stocks

Common stocks

Expenses

Realized gains on investments:

Bonds

Preferred stocks

Common stocks

Repurchase of notes and trust preferred securities

OdysseyRe IPO

Other

Provision for losses and writedowns

2002

2001

2000

56.6

85.1

545.8

540.6

6.6

59.9

3.6

59.8

668.9

689.1

(11.2)

(8.3)

109.5

655.6

4.7

54.2

824.0

(5.9)

657.7

680.8

818.1

507.3

12.0

28.4

0.6

22.3

(0.2)

248.3

172.6

403.0

31.7

–

(8.6)

–

51.2

(1.9)

(53.0)

(37.4)

–

–

(20.9)

(21.4)

737.7

213.5

382.8

Net investment income

1,395.4

894.3

1,200.9

4.

Provision for Claims

The provisions for unpaid claims and adjustment expenses and for the third party reinsurers’

share thereof are estimates subject to variability, and the variability could be material in the

35

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

near term. The variability arises because all events affecting the ultimate settlement of claims

have not taken place and may not take place for some time. Variability can be caused by receipt

of additional claim information, changes in judicial interpretation of contracts or liability or

significant changes in severity or frequency of claims from historical trends. The estimates are

principally  based  on  the  company’s  historical  experience.  Methods  of  estimation  have  been

used which the company believes produce reasonable results given current information.

Changes in claim liabilities recorded on the balance sheet for the years ended December 31,

2002 and 2001 and their impact on unpaid claims and adjustment expenses for these two years

are as shown in the following table:

Unpaid claim liabilities – beginning of year – net

Foreign exchange effect of change in claim liabilities

Increase in estimated losses and expenses for losses occurring in

prior years

Recovery under Swiss Re cover

Provision for losses and expenses on claims occurring in the

current year

Paid on claims occurring during:

the current year

prior years

Unpaid claim liabilities at December 31 of:

Winterthur (Asia)

First Capital

Old Lyme

Unpaid claim liabilities – end of year – net

Unpaid claim liabilities at December 31 of Federated Life

Unpaid claim liabilities – end of year – net

Reinsurance gross-up

Unpaid claim liabilities – end of year – gross

2002

2001

10,705.4

11,154.8

(90.6)

690.8

528.9

(8.1)

494.7

(325.4)

4,112.4

3,991.8

(1,082.7)

(1,072.4)

(3,317.0)

(4,254.6)

–

16.2

64.0

25.7

–

–

10,928.5

10,705.4

28.9

29.4

10,957.4

10,734.8

10,207.7

11,351.0

21,165.1

22,085.8

The  foreign  exchange  effect  of  change  in  claim  liabilities  results  from  the  fluctuation  of  the

value of the Canadian dollar in relation to the U.S. dollar and European currencies.

The basic assumptions made in establishing actuarial liabilities are best estimates of possible

outcomes. The company presents its claims on an undiscounted basis.

The  company’s  provision  for  asbestos,  pollution  and  other  hazards  claims  is  set  out  under

‘‘Fairfax Total’’ in the table on page 82 of the MD&A.

As  part  of  its  acquisition  strategy,  the  company  generally  obtains  vendor  indemnifications

from  adverse  development  in  the  acquired  company’s  claims  reserves  and  unrecoverable

reinsurance. A summary of these indemnifications is set out in the table on page 102 of the

MD&A.

36

5.

Long Term Debt

The long term debt at December 31 consists of the following balances:

Fairfax unsecured senior notes of US$100 at 7.75% due

December 15, 2003

Fairfax unsecured senior note at 7.75% due December 15, 2003

Fairfax unsecured senior notes of US$275 at 73/8% due

March 15, 2006(3)

Fairfax 445.7 (FF300) unsecured debt at 21/2% due February 27, 2007

(effectively a 430.5 (FF200) debt at 8%)

Fairfax unsecured senior notes of US$170 at 6.875% due

April 15, 2008(2)(3)

Fairfax unsecured senior notes of US$100 at 8.25% due

October 1, 2015(2)

Fairfax unsecured senior notes of US$190.2 at 7.375% due

April 15, 2018(1)(2)(3)

Fairfax unsecured senior notes of US$102.6 at 8.30% due

April 15, 2026(2)(3)

Fairfax unsecured senior notes of US$105.5 at 7.75% due

July 15, 2037(2)(3)

TIG senior unsecured non-callable notes of US$100 at 8.125% due

April 15, 2005

Other long term debt of TIG

OdysseyRe senior unsecured non-callable notes of US$90 at 7.49%

due November 30, 2006

OdysseyRe convertible senior debentures of US$110 at 4.375% due

June 22, 2022(4)

Other long term debt of OdysseyRe

Lindsey Morden unsecured Series B debentures at 7% due

June 16, 2008

Other long term debt of Lindsey Morden

Less: Lindsey Morden debentures held by Fairfax

Fairfax notes held by subsidiaries

2002

2001

158.0

25.0

159.6

25.0

434.4

439.0

62.6

52.9

268.6

279.4

158.0

159.6

300.4

359.2

162.0

199.5

166.7

199.5

157.5

12.0

158.6

22.6

142.2

159.6

173.8

–

125.0

4.4

–

79.8

125.0

8.2

2,350.6

2,427.5

(8.2)

–

(8.2)

(88.5)

2,342.4

2,330.8

(1) During  1998,  the  company  swapped  US$125  of  its  debt  at  7.375%  due  April  15,  2018  for

Japanese yen denominated debt of the same maturity, with fixed interest at 3.48% per annum.

Effective January 1, 2002, in accordance with changes to Canadian generally accepted accounting

principles,  foreign  exchange  gains  and  losses  on  long  term  debt  are  recognized  immediately  in

earnings.  As  at  December  31,  2002  and  2001,  the  unrealized  loss  from  the  foreign  exchange

component  of  the  yen  debt  swap  was  $13.5  and  $1.6  respectively.  Previously,  these  amounts

would have been amortized to earnings over the term to maturity.

37

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

(2) During 2002, the company closed out the swaps for this debt and deferred the resulting gain of

approximately $93.8 (2001 – $25.0) which will be amortized to earnings over the remaining term

to maturity.

(3) During 2002, the company purchased for cancellation $40.2 (US$25.6) of its notes at a cost of

$21.0 (US$13.4). In addition, the company also purchased for cancellation the $88.5 of its notes

held by its subsidiaries.

(4) Redeemable  at  OdysseyRe’s  option  beginning  June  22,  2005.  Each  holder  may,  at  its  option,

require  OdysseyRe  to  repurchase  all  or  a  portion  of  this  debt  (for  cash  or  OdysseyRe  shares,  at

OdysseyRe’s option) on June 22, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2017. Convertible at the holder’s

option,  under  certain  circumstances,  into  OdysseyRe  common  shares  in  the  ratio  of  46.9925

OdysseyRe shares for every $1,000 principal amount of this debt.

Interest  expense  on  long  term  debt  amounted  to  $134.0  (2001  –  $164.3;  2000  –  $174.1).

Interest  expense  on  Lindsey  Morden’s  bank  indebtedness  amounted  to  $2.7  (2001  –  $4.3;

2000 – $5.5).

Principal repayments are due as follows:

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Thereafter

196.2

0.7

331.1

579.6

62.6

1,172.2

6.

Trust Preferred Securities of Subsidiaries

TIG  Holdings  has  issued  $197.5  (US$125)  of  8.597%  junior  subordinated  debentures  to  TIG

Capital  Trust  (a  statutory  business  trust  subsidiary  of  TIG  Holdings)  which,  in  turn,  issued

US$125 of 8.597% mandatory redeemable capital securities, maturing in 2027. During 2002,

the  company  acquired  $16.1  (US$10.2)  of  these  trust  preferred  securities  for  approximately

$6.5 (US$4.1) (2001 – US$35 and US$24.5).

Fairfax  RHINOS  Trust  (a  statutory  business  trust  subsidiary  of  Fairfax  Inc.)  has  issued  $214.9

(US$136) of Redeemable Hybrid Income Overnight Shares (RHINOS) (136,000 trust preferred

securities) with a distribution rate of LIBOR plus 150 basis points maturing February 24, 2003.

7.

Capital Stock

Authorized capital

The  authorized  share  capital  of  the  company  consists  of  an  unlimited  number  of  preferred

shares issuable in series, an unlimited number of multiple voting shares carrying ten votes per

share and an unlimited number of subordinate voting shares carrying one vote per share.

38

Issued capital

2002

number

2001

number

2000

number

Multiple voting shares

1,548,000

5.0

1,548,000

5.0

1,548,000

5.0

Subordinate voting shares

13,391,918 2,249.2 13,602,118 2,275.4 12,352,118 2,026.9

14,939,918 2,254.2 15,150,118 2,280.4 13,900,118 2,031.9

Interest in shares held

through ownership

interest in shareholder

(799,230)

(19.0)

(799,230)

(19.0)

(799,230)

(19.0)

Net shares effectively

outstanding

14,140,688 2,235.2 14,350,888 2,261.4 13,100,888 2,012.9

Fixed/floating cumulative

redeemable preferred

shares, Series A, with a

fixed dividend of 6.5% per

annum until November 30,

2004 and stated capital of

$25 per share

8,000,000

200.0

8,000,000

200.0

8,000,000

200.0

During  2002,  under  the  terms  of  normal  course  issuer  bids  approved  by  the  Toronto  Stock

Exchange,  the  company  purchased  and  cancelled  210,200  subordinate  voting  shares  for  an

aggregate cost of $26.2.

On November 20, 2001, the company issued 1,250,000 subordinate voting shares at $200 per

share for net proceeds of $248.5.

In  2000,  the  company  purchased  and  cancelled  325,309  subordinate  voting  shares  for  an

aggregate cost of $59.7, of which $6.3 was charged to retained earnings.

8.

Reinsurance

The  company  follows  the  policy  of  underwriting  and  reinsuring  contracts  of  insurance  and

reinsurance  which,  depending  on  the  type  of  contract,  generally  limits  the  liability  of  the

individual insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries to a maximum amount on any one loss of

$8.0. Reinsurance is generally placed on an excess of loss basis in several layers. The company’s

reinsurance  does  not,  however,  relieve  the  company  of  its  primary  obligation  to  the

policyholders.

The company has guidelines and a review process in place to assess the creditworthiness of the

companies to which it cedes.

The  company  makes  specific  provisions  against  reinsurance  recoverable  from  companies

considered to be in financial difficulty. In addition, the company records a general allowance

39

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

based  upon  analysis  of  historical  recoveries,  the  level  of  allowance  already  in  place  and

management’s judgment. The allocation of the allowance for loss is as follows:

Specific

General

Total

2002

730.3

240.9

2001

816.9

219.2

971.2

1,036.1

A summary of the company’s reinsurance recoverable by A.M. Best rating of the responsible

reinsurers and outstanding balance at December 31, 2002 is set out in the table on page 100 of

the MD&A.

During the year, the company ceded premiums earned of $1,419.2 (2001 – $1,908.7; 2000 –

$1,427.1) and claims incurred of $1,298.3 (2001 – $3,591.6; 2000 – $2,540.6).

9.

Income Taxes

The company’s provision for (recovery of) income taxes is as follows:

Current

Future

2002

55.3

2001

(1.8)

2000

11.1

180.4

(384.8)

(197.4)

235.7

(386.6)

(186.3)

The provision for income taxes differs from the statutory tax rate as certain sources of income

are exempt from tax or are taxed at other than the statutory rate. A reconciliation of income

tax calculated at the statutory tax rate with the income tax provision at the effective tax rate in

the financial statements is summarized in the following table:

Provision for (recovery of) income taxes at

statutory income tax rate

Non-taxable investment income

Income earned outside Canada

Negative goodwill amortization

2002

2001

2000

167.0

(309.2)

(16.5)

(56.4)

(14.5)

(13.7)

(109.9)

11.2

(149.8)

–

(33.0)

(49.5)

Change in tax rate for future income taxes

(12.6)

1.4

7.9

Unrecorded tax benefit of losses and

utilization of prior years’ losses

207.7

(0.6)

33.3

Provision for (recovery of) income taxes

235.7

(386.6)

(186.3)

40

Future income taxes of the company are as follows:

Operating and capital losses

Claims discount

Unearned premium reserve

Deferred premium acquisition cost

Investments

Allowance for doubtful accounts

Other

Valuation allowance

Future income taxes

2002

2001

1,032.9

1,182.4

379.4

126.1

394.8

120.9

(141.2)

(131.0)

12.8

40.7

121.5

(28.2)

(9.1)

55.1

164.4

(58.7)

1,544.0

1,718.8

Management reviews the valuation of the future income taxes on an ongoing basis and adjusts

the  valuation  allowance,  as  necessary,  to  reflect  its  anticipated  realization.  Management

expects  that  these  future  income  taxes  will  be  realized  in  the  normal  course  of  operations.

However,  to  more  quickly  use  its  future  income  tax  asset,  the  company  determined  that  it

would be in its best interests to increase its 73.8% interest in OdysseyRe to in excess of 80%, so

that OdysseyRe’s results will be included in Fairfax’s U.S. consolidated tax group. The company

has  entered  into  a  private  agreement  to  purchase  4,300,000  outstanding  common  shares  of

OdysseyRe  at  the  market  price  at  closing,  which  is  scheduled  for  March  3,  2003.  As

consideration,  the  company  is  issuing  a  7-year  3.15%  debenture  exchangeable  for  two  years

into the number of OdysseyRe shares being purchased.

10.

Statutory Requirements

The company’s insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are subject to certain requirements and

restrictions  under  their  respective  insurance  company  Acts  including  minimum  capital

requirements and dividend restrictions.

The company can receive up to $670.1 in 2003 as dividends from insurance and reinsurance

subsidiaries without obtaining the prior approval of insurance regulators.

At December 31, 2002, statutory surplus, determined in accordance with the various insurance

regulations,  amounted  to  $2.0  billion  (2001  –  $3.4  billion)  for  the  insurance  subsidiaries,

$1.6  billion  (2001  –  $1.4  billion)  for  the  reinsurance  subsidiaries  and  $2.5  billion  (2001  –

$1.1  billion)  for  the  runoff  subsidiaries.  $1.0  billion  (2001  –  $1.0  billion)  of  OdysseyRe’s

statutory  surplus  is  also  included  in  TIG’s  statutory  surplus  (which  is  included  in  the  runoff

subsidiaries in 2002 and in the insurance subsidiaries in 2001).

11.

Contingencies and Commitments

In 2000, the legal proceedings commenced by Sphere Drake in 1999 against a group of agents

and intermediaries whom it alleged fraudulently obtained and utilized a binding authority to

write  reinsurance  contracts  which  expose  Sphere  Drake  to  significantly  under-priced

U.S. workers’ compensation business, which was filed in New York, was dismissed as to most

defendants primarily on the ground that London, England was a more convenient forum in

which the dispute should be resolved. Sphere Drake subsequently commenced proceedings in

41

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

London, England against its agent and the agent of the cedants, alleging fraud and breach of

duty.  Sphere  Drake  has  rescinded  the  majority  of  the  inward  reinsurance  contracts  placed

under the binding authority and is defending arbitration proceedings initiated by the cedants

of a number of those contracts. It is not yet possible to develop any reasonably based estimates

of  the  amount  of  claims  which  might  be  made  on  these  contracts.  However,  based  on

extensive legal advice, Sphere Drake believes that there is abundant evidence of fraud and that

it has substantial grounds to challenge the enforceability of the business bound on its behalf.

While  the  eventual  outcome  is  uncertain,  the  company  believes  that  the  likely  ultimate  net

liability  which  might  arise  in  respect  of  this  business  will  not  be  material  to  Sphere  Drake’s

financial position.

Subsidiaries of the company are also defendants in several damage suits and have been named

as third party in other suits. The uninsured exposure to the company is not considered to be

material to the company’s financial position.

Unsecured  letters  of  credit  aggregating  $468.0  have  been  issued  upon  the  company’s

application  and  have  been  pledged  as  security  for  subsidiaries’  reinsurance  balances,

principally  relating  to  intercompany  reinsurance  between  subsidiaries.  These  are  unsecured

letters of credit in addition to the secured letters of credit referred to in note 3.

The company under certain circumstances may be obligated to purchase loans to officers and

directors of the company and its subsidiaries from Canadian chartered banks totalling $18.3

(2001 – $18.3) for which 252,911 (2001 – 268,911) subordinate voting shares of the company

with a year-end market value of $30.6 (2001 – $44.1) have been pledged as security.

The  company  also  has  a  restricted  stock  plan  for  the  management  of  its  subsidiaries  with

vesting  periods  of  up  to  ten  years  from  the  date  of  grant.  At  December  31,  2002,  197,381

(2001 – 230,800) subordinate voting shares had been purchased for the plan at a cost of $59.2

(2001 – $66.9).

Shares for the above-mentioned plans are purchased on the open market. The costs of these

plans are amortized to compensation expense over the vesting period. Amortization expense

for the year for these plans amounted to $11.1 (2001 – $7.9; 2000 – $6.2).

12.

Operating Leases

Aggregate  future  minimum  commitments  at  December  31,  2002  under  operating  leases

relating  to  premises,  automobiles  and  equipment  for  various  terms  up  to  ten  years  are  as

follows:

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Thereafter

102.5

76.9

66.0

57.9

43.7

164.4

42

13.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share are calculated after providing for dividends and dividend tax on the Series A

fixed/floating cumulative redeemable preferred shares.

Diluted  and  basic  earnings  per  share  are  the  same  in  2002,  2001  and  2000.  The  weighted

average number of shares for 2002 was 14,283,735 (2001 – 13,241,299; 2000 – 13,172,448).

14.

Acquisitions and Divestitures

On  September  10,  2002,  OdysseyRe  acquired  56.0%  of  First  Capital  Insurance  Limited,  a

Singapore  insurance  company,  for  $28.0  (US$17.8).  At  the  date  of  acquisition,  the  acquired

company had $76.7 (US$48.8) in total assets and $28.0 (US$17.8) in total liabilities.

On  August  28,  2002,  the  company  invested  an  additional  $45.7  (£19.4)  in  Advent  Capital

(Holdings) PLC of the U.K., thereby increasing its ownership to 46.8% from 22.0%.

Effective May 30, 2002, the company acquired Old Lyme Insurance Company of Rhode Island,

Inc.  and  Old  Lyme  Insurance  Company  Ltd.  from  its  equity  investee,  Hub  International

Limited, for cash consideration of $66.7 (US$43.5), the fair value of the net assets acquired. At

the  date  of  acquisition,  the  acquired  companies  had  $165.9  (US$108.2)  in  total  assets  and

$99.2 (US$64.7) in total liabilities.

Effective  December  20,  2001,  the  company  purchased  Winterthur  Swiss  Insurance  (Asia)

Limited  for  $23.1  (US$14.5)  cash.  At  the  date  of  acquisition,  the  company  had  $195.8

(US$122.7) in total assets and $172.7 (US$108.2) in total liabilities.

On June 14, 2001, OdysseyRe Holdings Corp. (ORH), the U.S. holding company for Odyssey

America Re and its subsidiaries, issued 17,142,857 common shares, in an initial public offering,

at US$18 per share for net proceeds (after expenses of issue) of $436.9 (US$284.8). Fairfax and

its  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  TIG,  received  $354.4  (US$233.5)  in  cash  from  these  proceeds.

After the offering, Fairfax and TIG held 48 million (73.7%) of OdysseyRe’s common shares and

a $303.5 (US$200) ORH three year term note bearing interest at the rate of 2.25% over LIBOR

and  repayable  in  annual  principal  payments  of  US$66.7  beginning  June  30,  2002.  The

company recorded a gain of $51.2 on its effective sale of a 26.3% interest in ORH.

Effective August 31, 2000, Crum & Forster purchased Sen-Tech Holdings, Inc. (and its wholly-

owned  subsidiary,  Seneca  Insurance  Company,  Inc.  of  New  York)  for  $96  (US$65)  cash.

Effective  December  21,  2000,  Crum  &  Forster  also  purchased  Transnational  Insurance

Company  for  $26  (US$17)  cash.  At  the  respective  dates  of  acquisition,  the  companies  had

US$193  in  total  assets  and  US$119  in  total  liabilities,  at  fair  value,  resulting  in  goodwill  of

US$8.

As part of the acquisition of TIG on April 13, 1999, the company acquired a 90% ownership in

Kingsmead  Managing  Agency,  a  managing  agent  for  three  Lloyd’s  syndicates  for  which  TIG

provided underwriting capacity. On June 29, 2000, the company entered into an agreement to

sell  Kingsmead  to  Advent  Capital  PLC  for  a  22%  interest  in  Advent,  which  closed  on

November 16, 2000. There was no gain or loss on the sale. The company recorded operating

losses  from  the  Kingsmead-managed  syndicates  of  $33.0  for  the  year  ended  December  31,

2000. For the year ended December 31, 2001, the company recorded a loss of $116.7 from its

43

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

liability for 2000 and prior underwriting years of those syndicates. The losses reflect losses on

unexpired policies from the 2000 underwriting year (including World Trade Center losses of

$62.4) and adverse development from the open underwriting years.

15.

Acquisition and Reorganization

On December 16, 2002, the company acquired Xerox’s 72.5% economic interest in TRG, the

holding  company  of  International  Insurance  Company,  in  exchange  for  payments  over  the

next 15 years of $667.8 (US$425), ($320.5 (US$204) at current value using a discount rate of

9%  per  annum),  payable  approximately  $7.8  (US$5)  a  quarter  from  2003  to  2017  and

approximately  $201.1  (US$128)  on  December  16,  2017.  Upon  this  acquisition,  Xerox’s  non-

voting shares were amended to make them mandatorily redeemable at a capped price and to

eliminate Xerox’s participation in the operations of IIC, and a direct contractual obligation was

effectively created from the company to Xerox. The fair value of assets acquired was $2,267.2

(US$1,442.9)  and  of  liabilities  assumed  was  $1,650.6  (US$1,050.5),  resulting  in  negative

goodwill  of  $298.5  (US$188.4).  On  December  16,  2002,  TIG  merged  with  International

Insurance and discontinued its MGA-controlled program business, which has resulted in the

company recognizing a pre-tax charge to income of $314.3 (US$200) for reserve strengthening

and  $99.9  (US$63.6)  for  restructuring  and  other  related  costs  which  include  severance,  lease

termination  costs,  writedowns  of  long-lived  assets  and  premiums  for  certain  long  term

catastrophe covers.

TIG’s Hawaii and A&H non-MGA-controlled business will be continued in a separate insurance

subsidiary  not  owned  by  TIG  provided  the  operations  perform  within  Fairfax’s  objectives  of

underwriting profitability.

16.

Segmented Information

The  company  is  a  financial  services  holding  company  which,  through  its  subsidiaries,  is

primarily engaged in property and casualty insurance conducted on a direct and reinsurance

basis. The runoff business segment comprises ORC Re (which fully reinsures the U.K. runoff

entities, Sphere Drake and RiverStone (UK) and the U.S. runoff company formed on the merger

of TIG and IIC. The international runoff operations have reinsured their reinsurance portfolios

to ORC Re to provide consolidated investment and  liquidity management services, with the

RiverStone Group retaining full responsibility for all other aspects of the runoff. Accordingly,

for  segmented  information,  ORC  Re  is  classified  in  the  Runoff  segment.  The  company  also

provides claims adjusting, appraisal and loss management services.

44

Revenue
Net premiums earned
Insurance – Canada
Insurance – US
Reinsurance
Runoff

Interest and dividends
Realized gains
Claims fees

Earnings (loss) before

income taxes
Underwriting results

Insurance – Canada
Insurance – US
Reinsurance

Interest and dividends

2002

Canada
2001

2000

2002

United States
2001

2000

2002

Europe and
Far East
2001

2000

2002

Total
2001

2000

823.3
–
45.0
26.1

661.0
–
–
–

600.3
–
–
–

68.6
1,736.3
1,552.6
1,068.5

46.3
2,510.5
1,054.6
0.4

36.9
2,416.9
813.1
0.4

40.1
65.3
653.5
30.8

22.9
16.9
337.7
156.4

19.0
–
411.2
312.9

932.0
1,801.6
2,251.1
1,125.4

730.2
2,527.4
1,392.3
156.8

656.2
2,416.9
1,224.3
313.3

894.4

661.0

600.3

4,426.0

3,611.8

3,267.3

789.7

533.9

743.1

6,110.1

4,806.7

4,610.7

657.7
737.7
456.8

680.8
213.5
424.7

818.1
382.8
376.9

7,962.3

6,125.7

6,188.5

14.6% 13.8% 13.0%

72.5%

75.1%

70.9% 12.9% 11.1% 16.1%

23.1
–
0.3

23.4
42.2

(76.1)
–
–

(76.1)
64.7

(9.7)
–
–

(9.7)
72.3

5.3
(65.7)
19.1

(41.3)
413.7

(29.1)
(633.9)
(149.2)

(812.2)
425.9

5.2
(588.4)
(94.7)

(677.9)
520.3

11.1
0.2
0.9

12.2
4.1

(14.3)
(4.0)
(65.5)

(83.8)
1.1

(8.5)
–
(2.7)

(11.2)
0.9

39.5
(65.5)
20.3

(5.7)
460.0

(119.5)
(637.9)
(214.7)

(972.1)
491.7

(13.0)
(588.4)
(97.4)

(698.8)
593.5

Operating income (loss)

65.6

(11.4)

62.6

372.4

(386.3)

(157.6)

16.3

(82.7)

(10.3)

454.3

(480.4)

(105.3)

Realized gains
Runoff
Claims adjusting
Interest expense
Swiss Re premium
Kingsmead losses
Restructuring charges
Negative goodwill amortization
Corporate overhead and other

Identifiable assets
Insurance
Reinsurance
Runoff
Claims adjusting

Corporate

737.7
(432.0)
(13.8)
(125.0)
(4.2)
–
(114.1)
–
(70.4)

213.5
(27.4)
(9.9)
(155.2)
(143.6)
(116.7)
(49.1)
78.6
(45.9)

378.3
43.3
(36.2)
(164.7)
(167.2)
(33.0)
(16.4)
108.7
(40.4)

432.5

(736.1)

(32.9)

3,071.9 2,586.9 1,849.8 12,528.8 16,039.8 14,256.1
6,424.4
– 1,296.1
3,100.6 3,053.8 4,145.1 3,538.5
331.4

7,419.1
3,332.2
70.9

7,207.0
6,028.7
69.2

31.4 15,947.3 18,871.8 16,137.3
7,728.3
6,639.1
442.8

7,425.7
7,477.3
458.1

8,324.8
9,139.4
455.2

124.8
56.9
31.8

7.8
–
47.6

6.6
–
55.5

346.6
993.0

331.7

354.2

245.1

63.8

3,285.4 2,649.0 1,905.2 25,833.7 26,862.0 23,844.9 4,747.6 4,721.9 5,197.4 33,866.7 34,232.9 30,947.5

Amortization

9.4%
14.8

7.5%
7.7

6.0%
3.4

73.6%
30.1

75.8%
36.8

74.9% 13.5% 13.3% 16.3%
21.5

17.3

22.5

25.9

1,243.8

1,205.8

885.8

35,110.5 35,438.7 31,833.3

67.4

70.4

42.2

Geographic  premiums  are  determined  based  on  the  domicile  of  the  various  subsidiaries  and

where the primary underlying risk of the business resides.

CRC (Bermuda), as the internal reinsurance company of the Canadian insurance companies, is

included  in  the  Canadian  segment; Falcon  is  included  in  the  United  States  segment;  and

Wentworth is included in the runoff segment.

Corporate  overhead  and  other  includes  the  company’s  interest  expense  and  corporate

overhead. Corporate assets include cash and short term investments and miscellaneous other

assets in the holding company.

45

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

17.

Fair Value

Information on the fair values of financial instruments of the company, including where those

values  differ  from  their  carrying  values  in  the  financial  statements  at  December  31,  2002,

include:

Marketable securities

Portfolio investments

Long term debt

Trust preferred securities of subsidiaries

Foreign exchange contracts

Note
Reference

Carrying
Value

Estimated
Fair Value

3

3

5

6

2

36.5

36.5

16,294.9

16,502.8

2,342.4

1,872.9

340.9

(333.4)

265.2

(333.4)

324.7

Purchase consideration payable

15

324.7

The unrealized loss on foreign exchange contracts is offset by an unrealized gain on the value

of the foreign assets hedged by those contracts.

The  amounts  above  do  not  include  the  fair  value  of  underlying  lines  of  business. While  fair

value amounts are designed to represent estimates of the amounts at which instruments could

be  exchanged  in  current  transactions  between  willing  parties,  certain  of  the  company’s

financial instruments lack an available trading market. Therefore, these instruments have been

valued  on  a  going  concern  basis.  Fair  value  information  on  the  provision  for  claims  is  not

determinable.

These fair values have not been reflected in the financial statements.

18.

US GAAP Reconciliation

The consolidated financial statements of the company have been prepared in accordance with

Canadian  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  (‘‘GAAP’’)  which  are  different  in  some

respects from those applicable in the United States, as described below.

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2002,  2001  and  2000,  significant  differences  between

consolidated  net  earnings  under  Canadian  GAAP  and  consolidated  net  earnings  under  US

GAAP were as follows:

(a)

In  Canada  prior  to  January  1,  2002,  the  unrealized  loss  on  the  translation  of  the

foreign  exchange  component  of  the  yen  debt  swap  was  deferred  and  amortized  to

income  over  the  remaining  term  to  maturity.  In  the  U.S.,  the  unrealized  foreign

exchange loss is recognized in income in the year, although there is no intention to

settle the swap prior to maturity.

(b)

In Canada, recoveries on certain stop loss reinsurance treaties (including with Swiss

Re) protecting Fairfax, Crum & Foster and TIG are recorded at the same time as the

claims incurred are ceded. In the U.S., these recoveries, which are considered to be

retroactive reinsurance, are recorded up to the amount of the premium paid with the

excess of the ceded liabilities over the premium paid recorded as a deferred gain. The

46

deferred  gain  is  amortized  to  income  over  the  estimated  settlement  period  over

which the company expects to receive the recoveries.

(c)

In Canada prior to January 1, 2002, the amortization period of negative goodwill was

periodically reviewed to determine whether the remaining useful life continues to be

appropriate  or  whether  the  amortization  period  should  be  adjusted,  based  on  the

facts and circumstances giving rise to the negative goodwill at the date of acquisition.

In the U.S., in the case of financial institutions, the SEC staff generally take exception

to a negative goodwill amortization period of less than 10 years. Effective January 1,

2002,  the  company  adopted  for  United  States  reporting  purposes  Statement  of

Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  142,  ‘‘Goodwill  and  Other  Intangible  Assets’’.

Under  this  standard,  goodwill  is  no  longer  amortized  over  its  estimated  useful  life,

however  it  is  assessed  on  an  annual  basis  for  impairment  requiring  writedowns.

Similarly, the excess of net assets over purchase price paid, in respect of acquisitions

prior to January 1, 2002, is no longer amortized to earnings but is added to earnings

through a cumulative catchup adjustment. The impact of the goodwill amortization

decreased net earnings by $28.1 and $21.0 in the years ended December 31, 2001 and

2000  respectively.  The  impact  of  the  negative  goodwill  amortization  increased  net

earnings  by  $34.6  in  2001  and  2000  respectively.  Together,  these  amortizations

resulted  in  a  net  increase  in net  earnings  of  $6.5  and  $13.6  and  an  increase  in all

earnings per share calculations of $0.49 and $1.03 for the years ended December 31,

2001  and  2000  respectively.  In  addition,  there  is  an  increase  in  earnings  for  the

cumulative catchup adjustment of $179.7 for the year ended December 31, 2002.

(d) Under  Canadian  GAAP,  the  Canadian  federal  and  provincial  income  tax  rate

reductions  that  are  substantively  enacted  are  reflected  in  the  rate  used  to  measure

future  income  tax  balances.  Under  US  GAAP,  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting

Standards No. 109, ‘‘Accounting for Income Taxes’’, these rate changes do not impact

the measurement of the company’s future income tax balances until they are passed

into law.

(e)

For United States reporting purposes, the company adopted Statement of Financial

Accounting Standards No. 133, ‘‘Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging

Activities’’, for the year ended December 31, 2001.

Under this standard, all derivatives are recognized at fair value in the balance sheet. If

the derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair

value of the derivative will either be offset in earnings against the change in the fair

value of the hedged item or will be recognized in other comprehensive income until

the  hedged  item  is  recognized  in  earnings.  If  the  change  in  the  fair  value  of  the

derivative  is  not  completely  offset  by  the  change  in  the  value  of  the  item  it  is

hedging, the difference will be recognized immediately in earnings.

The company’s forward contracts are hedges of net investments in subsidiaries and

therefore there is no impact as a result of this Standard.

(f) Other-than-temporary  declines  in  the  fair  value  of  available-for-sale  securities  are

recognized  in  US  GAAP  income  based  on  market  values;  declines  in  fair  values  are

47

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

generally  presumed  to  be  other  than  temporary  if  they  have  persisted  over  several

quarters.  Under  Canadian  GAAP,  other-than-temporary  declines  in  the  value  of

investment securities are recorded in earnings based on net realizable values; declines

in  fair  values  are  generally  presumed  to  be  other  than  temporary  if  conditions

indicating  impairment  have  persisted  for  a  more  prolonged  period  of  time  than

under US GAAP.

The following shows the net earnings in accordance with US GAAP:

Net earnings (loss), Canadian GAAP

415.7

(346.0)

137.4

2002

2001

2000

Recoveries on retroactive reinsurance, net

of tax

Other than temporary declines

Cumulative catchup adjustment on

changes in accounting for negative

goodwill

Amortization of negative goodwill

Other differences

32.7

(14.8)

179.7

–

–

(411.9)

(159.6)

–

–

–

–

(49.1)

9.5

(79.2)

17.1

Net earnings (loss), US GAAP

613.3

(797.5)

(84.3)

Net earnings (loss) per share, US GAAP

before cumulative catchup adjustment

and extraordinary item

$ 9.14

$(62.13)

$ (7.42)

Net earnings (loss) per share, US GAAP

before cumulative catchup adjustment

$30.03

$(62.13)

$ (7.42)

Net earnings (loss) per share, US GAAP

$42.61

$(62.13)

$ (7.42)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

In  Canada,  portfolio  investments  are  carried  at  cost  or  amortized  cost  with  a  provision  for

declines  in  value  which  are  considered  to  be  other  than  temporary.  In  the  U.S.,  such

investments  are  classified  as  available  for  sale  and  marked  to  market  through  shareholders’

equity.

In Canada, trust preferred securities of subsidiaries (including RHINOS) are included in total

liabilities.  In  the  U.S.,  trust  preferred  securities  are  shown  as  a  separate  caption  after  total

liabilities, in a manner similar to non-controlling interests.

48

The  following  shows  the  balance  sheet  amounts  in  accordance  with  US  GAAP,  setting  out

individual amounts where different from the amounts reported under Canadian GAAP:

Assets

Portfolio investments

Bonds

Preferred stocks

Common stocks

Strategic investments

Total portfolio investments

Future income taxes

Goodwill

All other assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

All other liabilities

Total liabilities

Trust preferred securities of subsidiaries

Mandatorily redeemable shares of TRG

Non-controlling interests

Excess of net assets acquired over purchase price paid

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders’ equity

The difference in consolidated shareholders’ equity is as follows:

Shareholders’ equity based on Canadian GAAP

Other comprehensive income

Cumulative reduction in net earnings under US GAAP

Shareholders’ equity based on US GAAP

2002

2001

11,869.8

11,424.2

249.7

1,125.4

511.3

126.4

918.8

502.2

13,756.2

12,971.6

1,885.5

2,273.3

375.1

356.8

19,705.5

20,192.2

35,722.3

35,793.9

3,073.0

2,951.2

28,365.9

28,898.8

31,438.9

31,850.0

340.9

324.7

508.1

–

360.8

–

1,043.3

179.7

1,173.7

1,583.8

3,109.7

2,360.1

2002

2001

3,551.5

3,242.7

127.5

(569.3)

(163.3)

(719.3)

3,109.7

2,360.1

49

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Statement  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  130,  ‘‘Reporting  Comprehensive  Income’’,

requires  the  company  to  disclose  items  of  other  comprehensive  income  in  a  financial

statement and to disclose accumulated balances of other comprehensive income in the equity

section of a financial statement. Other comprehensive income includes unrealized gains and

losses on investments, as follows:

Unrealized gain (loss) on investments available for sale

Related deferred income taxes

2002

2001

210.8

(281.6)

(83.3)

118.3

127.5

(163.3)

The  cumulative  reduction  in  net  earnings  under  US  GAAP  of  $569.3  at  December  31,  2002

relates  primarily  to  the  deferred  gain  on  retroactive  reinsurance  ($563.0  after  tax)  which  is

amortized into income as the underlying claims are paid.

Disclosure of Interest and Income Taxes Paid

The aggregate amount of interest paid for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

was $192.2, $163.3 and $182.0 respectively. The aggregate amount of income taxes paid for the

years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 was $43.9, $31.6 and $4.5 respectively.

50

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
(figures and amounts are in Cdn$ and $ millions except per share amounts and as otherwise

indicated)

Notes: (1) Readers of the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and

Results  of  Operations  should  review  the  entire  Annual  Report  for  additional

commentary and information.

(2) Management  analyzes  and  assesses  the  underlying  insurance,  reinsurance  and

runoff operations and financial position of the consolidated group in various ways.

Certain of these measures provided in this Annual Report, which have been used

historically  and  disclosed  regularly  in  Fairfax’s  Annual  Reports  and  interim

financial reporting, even though they do not necessarily follow Canadian generally

accepted accounting principles, include tables showing the company’s sources of

net  earnings  with  Lindsey  Morden  equity  accounted  and  the  company’s  capital

structure with Lindsey Morden equity accounted. Where non-GAAP measures are

provided, descriptions are clearly provided in the commentary as to the nature of

the adjustments made.

Foreign Exchange

The company’s consolidated financial statements are significantly affected by movements in

the US dollar/Canadian dollar exchange rate. The following table sets out the Canadian dollar

value of US$1.00 used in those statements:

Year-end exchange rate:

December 31, 2002

December 31, 2001

December 31, 2000

Increase (decrease) in the value of the US dollar vs. the Canadian dollar

– 2002/2001

– 2001/2000

Average exchange rate for the year ended:

December 31, 2002

December 31, 2001

December 31, 2000

Increase in the value of the US dollar vs. the Canadian dollar

– 2002/2001

– 2001/2000

Sources of Revenue

$1.5798

$1.5963

$1.5020

(1.0)%

6.3%

$1.5713

$1.5461

$1.4839

1.6%

4.2%

Revenue reflected in the consolidated financial statements for the past five years, as shown in

the  table  below,  includes  net  premiums  earned,  interest  and  dividend  income  and  realized

gains  on  the  sale  of  investments  of  the  insurance,  reinsurance  and  runoff  companies,  and

claims adjusting fees of Lindsey Morden.

51

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Net premiums earned

Insurance – Canada

Insurance – U.S.

Reinsurance

Runoff

Interest and dividends

Realized gains

Claims fees

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

932.0

1,801.6

2,251.1

1,125.4

730.2

2,527.4

1,392.3

156.8

656.2

2,416.9

1,224.3

313.3

650.0

2,307.0

1,275.2

238.5

687.3

715.5

992.1

–

6,110.1

4,806.7

4,610.7

4,470.7

2,394.9

657.7

737.7

456.8

680.8

213.5

424.7

818.1

382.8

376.9

753.0

121.7

443.1

443.8

440.8

294.8

7,962.3

6,125.7

6,188.5

5,788.5

3,574.3

Net premiums earned for the U.S. insurance group were reduced, and net premiums earned by

the runoff group were increased, by premiums on TIG’s discontinued MGA-controlled program

business of $820.4 which has been included in the U.S. runoff group retroactive to January 1,

2002.  Each  of  the  continuing  insurance  and  reinsurance  operations  increased  net  premiums

earned  significantly  during  2002,  reflecting  the  favourable  insurance  market  and  increased

retentions.

Claims  fees  for  2002  increased  by  $32.1  or  7.6%  over  2001,  reflecting  higher  revenue

throughout Lindsey Morden’s operations.

As  shown  in  note  16  to  the  financial  statements,  on  a  geographic  basis,  United  States,

Canadian, and Europe and Far East operations accounted for 72%, 15% and 13%, respectively,

of net premiums earned in 2002 compared with 75%, 14% and 11%, respectively, in 2001.

Net Earnings

Combined ratios and sources of net earnings (with Lindsey Morden equity accounted) for the

past five years were as set out below. Fuller commentary on combined ratios and on operating

income on a company by company basis is provided under Insurance Underwriting beginning

on page 54 and Operating Income beginning on page 56.

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

Combined ratios

Insurance – Canada

– U.S.

Reinsurance

Consolidated

96%

104%

99%

116%

125%

115%

102%

124%

108%

115%

112%

119%

106%

116%

116%

100%

121%

116%

115%

113%

52

Sources of net earnings

Underwriting

Insurance – Canada

– U.S.

Reinsurance

Underwriting income (loss)

Interest and dividends

Operating income (loss)

Realized gains

Runoff

TIG reserve strengthening and

restructuring costs

Claims adjusting (Fairfax portion)

Interest expense

Swiss Re premium

Corporate overhead and other

Other costs and charges

Goodwill and other amortization

Negative goodwill amortization

Kingsmead losses

Taxes

Negative goodwill on TRG purchase

Non-controlling interests

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

39.5

(119.5)

(13.0)

(96.6)

(40.3)

(65.5)

(637.9)

(588.4)

(273.1)

(116.5)

20.3

(214.7)

(97.4)

(247.4)

(154.6)

(5.7)

(972.1)

(698.8)

(617.1)

(311.4)

460.0

491.7

593.5

711.5

432.0

454.3

737.7

(117.7)

(480.4)

(105.3)

213.5

(27.4)

378.3

43.3

94.4

121.7

(54.2)

(414.2)

(10.5)

–

–

(3.9)

(15.4)

–

2.8

(125.0)

(155.2)

(164.7)

(129.3)

(4.2)

(143.6)

(167.2)

(70.4)

(14.2)

–

–

–

(38.9)

(49.1)

(7.0)

78.6

(116.7)

(234.6)

382.5

298.5

(84.0)

–

1.6

(35.5)

(16.4)

(5.4)

108.7

(33.0)

173.3

–

120.6

440.8

–

–

12.4

(84.4)

–

(16.0)

–

(35.3)

(20.2)

–

(5.1)

(4.9)

–

–

–

–

158.0

(81.0)

–

(23.3)

(8.6)

–

–

Net earnings (loss)

415.7

(346.0)

137.4

124.2

387.5

Net  earnings  in  2002  were  $415.7  compared  with  a  net  loss  of  $346.0  in  2001.  The  2002

earnings  reflect  significantly  improved  underwriting  results  at  each  of  the  continuing

insurance and reinsurance operations and significant realized gains.

53

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Insurance Underwriting

The  combined  ratio –  the  sum  of  the  loss  ratio  (claims  losses  and  loss  adjustment  expenses

expressed  as  a  percentage  of  net  premiums  earned)  and  the  expense  ratio  (commissions,

premium acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses as a percentage of net premiums

earned) –  is  the  traditional  measure  of  underwriting  results  of  property  and  casualty

companies. In any year when the ratio exceeds 100%, it generally indicates that unprofitable

business has been underwritten. Fairfax maintains its objective of achieving combined ratios of

100% or better, recognizing the difficulty of this objective.

A  summary  follows  of  the  net  premiums  written  and  earned,  and  the  loss,  expense  and

combined ratios, for Fairfax’s Canadian insurance companies, U.S. insurance companies and

reinsurance companies, for the years respectively that Fairfax has owned those companies.

Canadian Insurance

NET PREMIUMS

Written

Earned

RATIOS

Loss
(%)

Expense
(%)

Combined
(%)

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

23.4

56.0

71.4

68.2

35.5

74.5

93.5

128.7

163.5

237.2

684.3

666.9

662.7

684.2

652.4

668.8

875.1

1,249.1

14.0

40.9

62.0

66.3

40.4

78.4

90.5

118.9

150.8

221.3

655.4

654.8

661.5

687.3

650.0

656.2

730.2

932.0

96

72

73

73

100

82

60

79

73

77

73

71

70

78

83

72

85

69

30

23

25

19

40

31

34

35

26

24

29

30

29

28

32

30

31

27

126

95

98

92

140

113

94

114

99

101

102

101

99

106

115

102

116

96

The  Canadian  insurance  companies  returned  to  underwriting  profitability  in  2002.  The

combined ratios in 1999 and 2001 were adversely affected by the impact of the soft insurance

market and natural catastrophes.

54

U.S. Insurance

NET PREMIUMS

Written

Earned

RATIOS

Loss
(%)

Expense
(%)

Combined
(%)

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002*

174.4

180.3

212.8

201.9

625.9

2,093.2

2,443.4

2,515.2

1,987.9

179.3

173.9

209.4

205.7

715.5

2,307.0

2,416.9

2,527.4

1,801.6

77

79

90

77

79

75

89

86

73

37

40

34

35

37

37

35

39

31

114

119

124

112

116

112

124

125

104

* Includes TIG’s continuing business consisting of its Ranger, Hawaii, Accident and Health and Napa

excess property, excess casualty and healthcare books of business

The U.S. insurance group has not yet achieved underwriting profitability but has made notable

progress. Efforts at Crum & Forster since the arrival of the current management team in the

latter  part  of  1999  have  resulted  in  a  significant  turnaround  in  Crum  &  Forster’s  combined

ratio  from  the  very  high levels  then  prevailing  to  103.3%  in  2002,  including  102.6%  and

101.4% in the third and fourth quarters of 2002. Despite significant efforts, Fairfax concluded

that TIG’s MGA-controlled program business (business controlled by managing general agents,

who  have  authority  to  bind  the  company)  could  not  achieve  underwriting  profitability

consistent with the company’s objective, and it was put in runoff on December 16, 2002.

Reinsurance

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

NET PREMIUMS

Written

Earned

163.4

527.9

966.5

1,276.9

1,222.9

1,483.7

2,489.4

166.7

593.4

992.1

1,275.2

1,224.3

1,392.3

2,251.1

RATIOS

Loss
(%)

Expense
(%)

Combined
(%)

62

72

80

85

71

81

69

34

34

36

34

37

34

30

96

106

116

119

108

115*

99

* 103% excluding the impact of catastrophe losses (World Trade Center and Enron)

The  reinsurance  group  achieved  underwriting  profitability  in  2002.  The  reinsurance  group

resulted from the operational merger of OdysseyRe and Odyssey America Re (formerly TIG Re)

in October 1999 and the continuation of CTR’s European and Asian business through branches

of Odyssey America Re effective January 1, 2001.

55

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Operating Income

Set  out  and  discussed  below  are  the  2002  and  2001  insurance  underwriting  and  operating

results  of  Fairfax’s  insurance  and  reinsurance  companies  on  a  summarized  company  by

company  basis.  (Throughout  this  Annual  Report,  for  convenience,  Falcon  is  included  under

U.S. insurance companies.)

Canadian Insurance Companies

For the year ended December 31, 2002

Underwriting profit

23.5

4.2

8.6

3.5

Commonwealth Federated

Lombard Markel

Corporate
adjustments

(0.3)(1)

Total

39.5

Combined ratio:
Loss & LAE
Commissions
Underwriting expense

Gross premiums written

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned

Underwriting profit

Interest and dividends

Operating income

(1)

Intercompany fees

74.0%
(7.3)%
17.4%

59.7% 67.0%
0.2% 17.5%
34.1% 14.1%

74.9%
1.9%
19.5%

84.1%

94.0% 98.6%

96.3%

718.4

343.6

148.2

23.5

115.7

768.8

87.5

69.9

4.2

691.1

619.0

8.6

173.4

126.9

94.9

3.5

68.4%
10.7%
16.7%

95.8%

1,776.3

1,249.1

932.0

39.5

67.4

106.9

(0.3)(1)

For the year ended December 31, 2001

Commonwealth Federated

Lombard Markel

Corporate
adjustments

Total

(58.8)

(2.0)

(76.4)

0.4

17.3(1) (119.5)

Underwriting profit

(loss)

Combined ratio:
Loss & LAE
Commissions
Underwriting expense

Gross premiums written

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned

140.4%
0.9%
21.3%

73.5% 81.1%
5.4% 19.0%
23.9% 15.2%

71.2%
5.1%
23.1%

162.6%

102.8% 115.3%

99.4%

374.9

176.4

94.0

92.6

76.3

70.6

612.7

547.1

498.5

103.9

75.3

67.1

0.4

84.7%
14.0%
17.7%

116.4%

1,184.1

875.1

730.2

17.3(1)

(119.5)

64.7

(54.8)

Underwriting profit (loss)

(58.8)

(2.0)

(76.4)

Interest and dividends

Operating income (loss)

(1) Recovery  under  the  Swiss  Re  Cover  on  1998  and  prior  losses,  as  described  in  more  detail  under

Swiss Re premium on pages 64 and 65

56

Commonwealth had an underwriting profit of $23.5 in 2002 compared with an underwriting

loss of $58.8 in 2001 and a combined ratio of 84.1% in 2002 compared with 162.6% in 2001,

reflecting  strong  profitability  across  all  lines  of  business  given  strong  market  conditions  and

significant  price  increases  achieved  in  2001  and  2002.  Gross  premiums  written  increased  by

91.6%  over  2001  to  $718.4  while  net  premiums  written  increased  by  94.8%  to  $343.6.

Commonwealth’s  expense  ratio  dropped  by  12.1  percentage  points  to  10.1%  reflecting  its

higher net premiums earned in 2002 and the benefit of ceding commissions paid by reinsurers

in 2002. The company continued to achieve significant price increases on its business in 2002

which will be realized in earned premiums in 2003.

Federated had an underwriting profit of $4.2 in 2002 compared with an underwriting loss of

$2.0  in  2001  and  improved  its  combined  ratio  to  94.0%  in  2002  from  102.8%  in  2001

(including the life company) resulting from the re-underwriting of its book of business in prior

years and price increases of 27% in 2002 and 24% in 2001. Federated’s property and casualty

gross premiums written increased by 29.7% to $94.3 in 2002 while its net premiums written

increased by 16.6% to $71.6. Federated’s expense ratio increased to 34.3% reflecting changes in

its  reinsurance  structure  and  bonuses  resulting  from  its  incentive  arrangements  tied  to

underwriting profitability. Federated Life had gross premiums written of $21.4, an increase of

8.1% from 2001, and achieved a 24% rate increase during 2002.

Lombard had an underwriting profit of $8.6 in 2002 compared with an underwriting loss of

$76.4 in 2001 and a combined ratio of 98.6% in 2002 compared with 115.3% in 2001, due to

significant  corrective  action  in  2001  and  prior  years,  including  cancellation  of  unprofitable

books and programs, more stringent underwriting, and price increases in excess of 24% in 2002

in its commercial lines and in excess of 17% in its personal lines. Lombard’s gross premiums

written  increased  25.5%  to  $768.8  in  2002  while  net  premiums  written  were  up  26.3%  to

$691.1.

Markel had another solid year in 2002 with a 96.3% combined ratio compared with 99.4% in

2001 and an increase in underwriting profit to $3.5 from $0.4. Gross premiums written were up

66.9% to $173.4 while net premiums written increased 68.5% to $126.9. In an unforgiving line

of business where most other insurers have been extremely unprofitable over the years, Markel

continues  to  outperform  the  trucking  insurance  industry  through  an  unrelenting  focus  on

specialization,  expertise  and  a  commitment  to  innovation.  Although  Markel’s  focused

approach has allowed it to prosper where others have failed, there remain numerous challenges

within  the  trucking  insurance  industry.  The  U.S.  tort  system  is  an  ever-increasing  and

hazardous  factor  for  Canadian  truckers,  while  the  economic  difficulties  facing  the

transportation  industry  continue  to  grow.  Markel’s  multi-year  investment  in  its  trucking

infrastructure, its innovative services and its unmatched team of experts put the company in a

unique position to meet these challenges going forward.

Cessions  to  CRC  (Bermuda)  by  the  Canadian  insurance  companies  are  included  in  the

respective results of those companies.

57

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

U.S. Insurance Companies

For the year ended December 31, 2002

Underwriting profit (loss)

(36.9)

(35.4)

0.2

3.2

3.4(1)

(65.5)

Crum &
Forster

TIG

Falcon

Old Lyme

Corporate
adjustments

Total

Combined ratio:

Loss & LAE

Commissions

Underwriting expense

72.7% 75.7% 56.0%

10.8% 10.2% 21.1%

19.8% 20.1% 22.7%

56.7%

29.0%

7.2%

103.3% 106.0% 99.8%

92.9%

Gross premiums written

1,505.9

942.6

Net premiums written

1,224.0

635.2

Net premiums earned

1,101.7

589.8

89.0

68.1

65.3

Underwriting profit (loss)

(36.9)

(35.4)

0.2

60.7

60.6

44.8

3.2

Interest and dividends

Operating income (loss)

(1)

Intercompany fees

72.7%

10.7%

20.2%

103.6%

2,598.2

1,987.9

1,801.6

3.4(1)

(65.5)

216.9

151.4

For the year ended December 31, 2001

Underwriting profit (loss)

(245.0)

(538.5)

(4.0)

149.6(1)

(637.9)

Crum &
Forster

TIG

Falcon

Corporate
adjustments

Total

Combined ratio:

Loss & LAE

Commissions

Underwriting expense

88.6%

13.9%

28.6%

92.4%

22.8%

16.0%

76.8%

12.8%

35.6%

131.1%

131.2%

125.2%

Gross premiums written

1,295.5

2,368.1

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned

801.9

1,694.9

787.2

1,724.3

33.7

18.4

15.9

85.4%

20.0%

19.9%

125.3%

3,697.3

2,515.2

2,527.4

Underwriting profit (loss)

(245.0)

(538.5)

(4.0)

149.6(1)

(637.9)

Interest and dividends

Operating income (loss)

249.8

(388.1)

(1) Recovery  under  the  Swiss  Re  Cover  on  1998  and  prior  losses,  as  described  in  more  detail  under

Swiss Re premium on pages 64 and 65

Crum & Forster had an underwriting loss of $36.9 in 2002 compared with $245.0 in 2001,

and a combined ratio of 103.3% compared with 131.1% 2001. The significant improvement in

Crum & Forster’s combined ratio in 2002 reflects double digit price increases since 2000 and

58

the execution of underwriting, distribution and expense initiatives by the management which

joined  the  company  in  October  1999.  Through  management’s  actions,  Crum  &  Forster’s

expense  ratio  has  declined  by  7.6  percentage  points  from  38.2%  in  1999  to  30.6%  in  2002.

Gross premiums written in 2002 increased by 16.2% to $1,505.9 while net premiums written

increased 23.9% (calculating 2001 premiums on a comparable basis) to $1,224.0, principally

due to price increases realized during 2002.

TIG  includes  Ranger’s  results  on  a  retroactive  basis  to  January  1,  2002,  giving  effect  to  the

combination of the two companies’ operations effective April 1, 2002, and TIG’s continuing

non-program business consisting of its Hawaii, Accident and Health and Napa excess property,

excess casualty and healthcare books of business. TIG’s discontinued MGA-controlled program

business  is  included  in  the  runoff  segment  with  retroactive  effect  to  January  1,  2002.  TIG’s

continuing  operations  include  cost  allocations  associated  with  the  discontinued  program

business. TIG’s special risk operations unit based in Napa, California will operate going forward

predominantly  as  a  managing  general  underwriter  (MGU),  focusing  on  excess  property  and

excess  casualty  insurance.  The  health  care  business  of  this  unit  will  be  written  through  a

subsidiary  of  OdysseyRe  (or  reinsured  by  OdysseyRe)  effective  January  1,  2003.  TIG  had  an

underwriting loss of $35.4 in 2002 compared with an underwriting loss of $538.5 in 2001 and

a  combined  ratio  of  106.0%  in  2002  compared  with  131.2%  in  2001.  The  continuing

operations of TIG and Ranger had an underwriting loss of $88.5 in 2001 and a combined ratio

of 122.9%. Gross premiums written and net premiums written for TIG’s discontinued MGA-

controlled  program  business  decreased  by  46.5%  to  $885.2  and  by  53.5%  to  $596.1,

respectively,  in  2002,  while  gross  premiums  written  and  net  premiums  written  for  its

continuing  operations  increased  by  32.2%  to  $942.6  and  by  53.5%  to  $635.2,  respectively,

principally  from  the  Napa  special  risk  operations.  The  continuing  operations  of  TIG – the

Ranger, Hawaii and Accident and Health businesses, which produced net premiums written of

US$213.9  in  2002 –  are  likely  to  be  transferred  during  2003  to  a  new  operating  company

platform  proposed  to  be  named  Fairmont  Insurance,  which  will  likely  also  consolidate  Old

Lyme, which was acquired from Hub International Limited on May 30, 2002. These continuing

operations are expected to achieve Fairfax’s objective of underwriting profitability.

Falcon had an underwriting profit of $0.2 in 2002 compared with an underwriting loss of $4.0

in 2001 and had a combined ratio of 99.8% in 2002 compared with 125.2% in 2001. With the

acquisition  of  Winterthur  (Asia)  in  December  2001,  Falcon’s  net  premiums  written  in  2002

increased by 270.1% to $68.1 (HK$337.8) from $18.4 (HK$90.7) in 2001 and its expense ratio

decreased by 4.6 percentage points to 43.8%. Management continues to focus on reducing the

expense ratio further.

59

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Reinsurance

Underwriting profit (loss)

20.3

(214.7)

OdysseyRe(1)
2002

2001

Combined ratio:

Loss & LAE

Commissions

Underwriting expense

68.9%

25.3%

4.9%

80.6%

27.6%

7.2%

99.1%

115.4%

Gross premiums written

2,848.2

1,731.5

Net premiums written

2,489.4

1,483.7

Net premiums earned

2,251.1

1,392.3

Underwriting profit (loss)

Interest and dividends

Operating income (loss)

20.3

175.7

196.0

(214.7)

176.1

(38.6)

(1) These  results  differ  from  those  published  by  Odyssey Re  Holdings  Corp.  (ORH)  due  to  the

elimination of intercompany transactions and purchase price and other adjustments made as part

of ORH’s IPO.

OdysseyRe had an underwriting profit of $20.3 in 2002 compared with an underwriting loss of

$214.7  in  2001  and  a  combined  ratio  of  99.1%  in  2002  compared  to  115.4%  in  2001.  The

substantial  improvements  in  2002  were  a  result  of  management’s  underwriting  actions,

including  improvements  in  pricing  as  well  as  terms  and  conditions,  and  the  company’s

opportunistic  expansion  into  better  performing  lines  of  business.  Net  premiums  written

increased by 67.8% in 2002 to $2,489.4 as a result of improved market conditions, including

improved pricing and industry consolidation.

Interest and Dividends

Interest  and  dividends  declined  by  6.4%  to  $460.0  in  2002.  The  amount  of  interest  and

dividends reflected primarily:

)

lower  interest  rates  which,  combined  with  the  maintenance  of  large  cash  positions,

resulted in a decline in the average pre-tax portfolio yield from 4.26% in 2001 to 3.97%

in 2002; and

) a  $0.6  billion  increase  in  the  average  investment  portfolios  in  2002  due  to  strong
positive cash flows from OdysseyRe and the Canadian insurance companies as a result

of their significant premium growth, and the significant reduction in Crum & Forster’s

negative cash flow from operations to US$72 in 2002 from US$284 in 2001, reflecting

its  improved  underwriting  results  and  premium  growth  since  2000,  offset  by  TIG’s

negative  cash  flow  following  its  discontinuance  of  its  MGA-controlled  program

business.

60

Other Components of Net Earnings

Realized  gains. Net  realized  gains  increased  in  2002  to  $737.7  from  $162.3  in  2001

(excluding  a  realized  gain  on  the  OdysseyRe  IPO  of  $51.2).  The  2002  realized  gains  resulted

principally from the sale of bonds ($507.3) and the sale of the S&P put contracts ($108.1 net of

amortization),  and  included  $31.7  from  the  repurchase  of  the  company’s  notes  and  trust

preferred  securities  of  a  subsidiary.  Included  in  net  realized  gains  for  the  year  ended

December 31, 2002 is $53.0 of losses on the other-than-temporary writedown of certain bonds

and  equities  (included  in  the  $53.0  of  losses  is  the  $31.2  aggregate  provision  for  losses  on

investments at December 31, 2002 mentioned on page 109). Fairfax’s investment portfolio is

managed  on  a  total  return  basis  which  views  realized  gains,  although  their  timing  may  be

unpredictable,  as  an  important  and  recurring  component  of  the  return  on  investments  and

consequently of income.

Runoff. The runoff business segment was formed with the acquisition on August 11, 1999 of

the  company’s  interest  in  The  Resolution  Group  (TRG),  which  was  comprised  of  the

outstanding  runoff  management  expertise  and  experienced,  highly  respected  personnel  of

TRG,  and  a  wholly-owned  insurance  subsidiary  in  runoff,  International  Insurance  Company

(IIC). The runoff segment currently consists of two runoff groups: the U.S. runoff group (the

merged  TIG  and  IIC,  as  described  below)  and  the  European  runoff  group  (Sphere  Drake  and

RiverStone Insurance (UK), as well as ORC Re, also as described below). Both runoff groups are

managed by the dedicated TRG runoff management operation, now usually identified under

the  RiverStone  name,  which  has  substantial  personnel  in  both  the  U.S.  and  Europe.

(Throughout  this  Annual  Report,  for  convenience,  Wentworth  is  included  in  the  European

runoff group.)

U.S. runoff group

On  August  11,  1999,  Fairfax  paid  US$97  to  purchase  100%  of  TRG’s  voting  common  shares

which represented an effective 27.5% economic interest in TRG’s results of operations and net

assets.  Xerox  retained  all  of  TRG’s  participating  non-voting  shares,  resulting  in  an  effective

72.5% economic interest in TRG’s results of operations and net assets. Xerox’s wholly-owned

subsidiary, Ridge Re, also provided TRG’s wholly-owned runoff subsidiary, IIC, with the vendor

indemnity  (unutilized  coverage  of  $160  (US$101)  at  December  31,  2002)  referred  to  under

Additional  Reinsurance  Protection  on  page  102.  IIC’s  cessions  to  Ridge  Re  are  fully

collateralized by trust funds in the same amount as the cessions.

On December 16, 2002, Fairfax acquired Xerox’s 72.5% economic interest in TRG, the holding

company  of  IIC,  in  exchange  for  payments  over  the  next  15  years  of  US$425  (US$204  at

current value, using a discount rate of 9% per annum), payable approximately US$5 a quarter

from  2003  to  2017  and  approximately  US$128  at  the  end  of  2017. Upon  this  acquisition,

Xerox’s non-voting shares were amended to make them mandatorily redeemable at a capped

price and to eliminate Xerox’s participation in the operations of IIC, and a direct contractual

obligation was effectively created from Fairfax to Xerox. IIC then merged with TIG to form the

U.S.  runoff  group.  This  group,  currently  operating  under  the  TIG  name,  consists  of  the  IIC

operations and the discontinued MGA-controlled program business of TIG (TIG’s continuing

61

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

business  will  operate  under  a  separate  platform  in  2003)  and  is  under  the  management  of

RiverStone.

By  merging  TIG  with  IIC,  a  runoff  company  with  an  excellent  record,  under  the  expert  and

respected  management  of  RiverStone,  Fairfax  is  confident  that  TIG’s  runoff  business  will  be

well managed and will no longer be a factor in TIG’s or Fairfax’s ongoing operations. Fairfax

recognized a charge of $414.2 as a result of strengthening TIG’s reserves by $314.3 (US$200)

and  incurring  a  restructuring  charge  and  related  charges  aggregating  $99.9  (US$63.6).  The

above-described transaction involving shares of TRG resulted in $298.5 (US$188.4) of negative

goodwill, as described under Acquisitions on pages 102 to 104.

On  January  6,  2003,  TIG  distributed  to  its  holding  company  approximately  $1.25  billion  of

assets, including 33.2 million of TIG’s 47.8 million shares of NYSE-listed Odyssey Re Holdings

Corp.  and  all  of  the  outstanding  shares  of  Commonwealth  and  Ranger.  The  distributed

securities will initially be held in trust for TIG’s benefit, principally pending TIG’s satisfaction

of  certain  financial  tests  at  the  end  of  2003.  Fairfax  has  guaranteed  that  TIG  will  maintain

US$500 of statutory surplus at the end of 2003, a risk-based capital of at least 200% at each

year-end, and a continuing net reserves to surplus ratio not exceeding 3 to 1. The $1.25 billion

of assets distributed by TIG into the trust consists of 33.2 million of the outstanding shares of

Odyssey  Re  Holdings  (market  value  of  approximately  US$593.6),  all  of  the  shares  of

Commonwealth (GAAP equity of approximately $207.2 million) and all of the shares of Ranger

(GAAP  equity  of  approximately  $135.8).  If  Fairfax  determines  to  replace  the  US$300  of

additional adverse development reinsurance which has been provided to TIG by ORC Re with a

third party adverse development cover, up to US$300 of these securities will be released from

the  trust.  Substantially  all  of  the  remainder  will  be  released  if  TIG  meets  the  financial  tests

described above at the end of 2003.

European runoff group, including ORC Re

The  European  runoff  group  consists  of  three  wholly-owned  entities:  Sphere  Drake  Insurance

and RiverStone Insurance (UK), as well as ORC Re. ORC Re is headquartered in Ireland, which

is  an  attractive  entry  point  to  the  European  market  and  provides  investment  and  regulatory

flexibility.  During  2002,  substantially  all  of  the  non-U.S.  runoff  operations –  RiverStone

Stockholm,  Sphere  Drake  Bermuda  and  CTR’s  non-life  operations –  were  consolidated  into

RiverStone  Insurance  (UK).  Management  is  continuing  the  consolidation  of  its  European

runoff  operations  and  expects  to  eventually  merge  RiverStone  Insurance  (UK)  and  Sphere

Drake Insurance into one runoff insurance company.

ORC  Re  reinsures  the  reinsurance  portfolios  of  RiverStone  Insurance  (UK)  and  Sphere  Drake

Insurance and benefits from the protection provided by the Swiss Re Cover (described below)

from  aggregate  adverse  development  on  claims  and  uncollectible  reinsurance  on  1998  and

prior net reserves. RiverStone Management (UK), with 243 employees and offices in London,

Brighton, Paris and Stockholm, provides the management (including claims handling) of ORC

Re’s insurance and reinsurance liabilities and the collection and management of its reinsurance

assets.  ORC  Re  also  provides  consolidated  investment  and  liquidity  management  services  to

the European runoff group. In addition to its role in the consolidation of the European runoff

companies, ORC Re also has two other mandates, described in the two following paragraphs.

62

It serves as the entity through which Fairfax primarily provided financing for the acquisition of

the  U.S.  insurance  and  reinsurance  companies.  ORC  Re’s  capital  and  surplus  includes

US$1.6 billion of equity and debt financing to Fairfax’s U.S. holding company resulting from

the  acquisitions  of  Ranger,  OdysseyRe,  Crum  &  Forster  and  TIG.  For  each  of  its  U.S.

acquisitions, Fairfax financed the acquisition, at the Canadian holding company, with an issue

of subordinate voting shares and long term debt. The proceeds of this long term financing were

invested in ORC Re’s capital which then provided the acquisition financing to Fairfax’s U.S.

holding  company  to  complete  the  acquisition.  At  December  31,  2002,  ORC  Re’s  capital  and

surplus of US$2.0 billion included US$1.6 billion related to equity and debt financing for the

acquisition of the U.S. insurance and reinsurance companies. The combined equity of ORC Re

and  the  other  European  runoff  entities  (excluding  amounts  related  to  equity  and  debt

financing for the acquisition of the U.S. insurance and reinsurance companies) amounted to

US$510 at December 31, 2002.

ORC Re reinsures the U.S. insurance companies, including by participating in their reinsurance

programs with third party reinsurers, provides TIG and the European runoff companies with

benefits of Fairfax’s corporate insurance policy which is ultimately reinsured with a Swiss Re

subsidiary  (the  Swiss  Re  Cover),  and  provided  post-acquisition  reinsurance  protection  for

Crum & Forster and TIG. Commencing in 2002, consistent with the company’s objective of

retaining  more  business  for  its  own  account  in  the  favourable  insurance  market  conditions

which currently exist, ORC Re participates in the reinsurance programs of affiliated companies’

non-Canadian insurance business with third party reinsurers.

As discussed in the 1999 Annual Report, the major reason for the Swiss Re Cover was to protect

Fairfax from development on pre-acquisition claims and related uncollectible reinsurance on

its April 13, 1999 acquisition of TIG. ORC Re has provided TIG with benefits of the Swiss Re

Cover through an underlying reinsurance policy with TIG. As of December 31, 2002, Fairfax

assigned the full benefit of the Swiss Re Cover to ORC Re which had previously provided the

indirect  benefit  of  the  Swiss  Re  Cover  to  TIG  and  the  European  runoff  companies.  At

December 31, 2002, there remained US$267.5 of unused protection under the Swiss Re Cover.

Although Fairfax remains legally liable for its original obligations with respect to the Swiss Re

Cover, under the terms of the assignment agreement ORC Re is responsible to Fairfax for all

future premium payments if additional losses are ceded to the Swiss Re Cover.

Every related party transaction of ORC Re, including its provision of reinsurance to affiliates, is

effected  on  market  terms  and  at  market  prices,  and  requires  approval  by  ORC  Re’s  board  of

directors, two of whose three members are unrelated to Fairfax. ORC Re’s accounts are audited

annually by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and its reserves are certified annually by Milliman

USA  and  reviewed  by  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP  in  providing  their  annual  valuation

actuary’s report on Fairfax’s consolidated provision for claims, which is included in the Annual

Report.  Except  in  cases  where  the  discount  is  offset  by  a  credit in  Fairfax’s  acquisition

accounting,  ORC  Re’s  reserves  are  recorded  on  an  undiscounted  basis,  in  accordance  with

Fairfax’s accounting policy.

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FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Set out below is a summary of the runoff 2002 and 2001 operating results (as noted, the results

of ORC Re form part of European runoff):

Gross premiums written

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned

TRG

TIG

0.4

0.4

0.4

885.2

596.1

988.5

Losses on claims

(8.8)

(784.8)

Operating expenses

(42.1)

(389.7)

2002

European
runoff

Total

TRG

20.3

15.6

136.5
(106.2)(1)
(129.0)

905.9

612.1

1,125.4

0.4

0.4

0.4

(899.8)

(15.6)

(560.8)

(21.0)

2001

European
runoff

78.9

43.3

Total

79.3

43.7

156.4
156.8
(207.3)(1) (222.9)
(128.4)
(107.4)

Interest and dividends

58.0

62.8

96.7

217.5

66.4

100.7

167.1

Operating income (loss)

7.5

(123.2)

(2.0)

(117.7)

30.2

(57.6)

(27.4)

(1) Net of redundancy under the Swiss Re Cover of $22.8 in 2002, and net of recovery under the Swiss

Re Cover of $121.1 in 2001, on 1998 and prior losses, as described in more detail under Swiss Re

premium beginning below on this page, the benefit of which was indirectly provided to ORC Re in

2001 by Fairfax

The  loss  of  $117.7  resulted  primarily  from  TIG’s  discontinued  MGA-controlled  program

business which has been included in the U.S. runoff group with retroactive effect to January 1,

2002. TRG had operating income of $7.5 for 2002 and cumulative operating income of $74.4

since Fairfax’s purchase of an interest in TRG in 1999, as its net investment income exceeds its

claims  handling  costs  and  its  losses  on  claims,  which  consist  essentially  of  co-reinsurance

under  the  Ridge  Re  cover.  The  European  runoff  operations  have  stabilized  in  2002  with  an

operating  loss  of  $2.0.  The  net  premiums  written  principally  arise  from  the  runoff  of  CTR’s

non-life premiums for the 2000 and prior underwriting years.

Claims adjusting. Fairfax’s $10.5 share of Lindsey Morden’s loss in 2002, compared with a

$3.9 share of the loss in 2001, reflects Lindsey Morden’s non-recurring charges of $20.0 arising

from  legal  settlement  expenses  and  restructuring  of  the  U.S.  operations,  partially  offset  by

substantially improved operating earnings (reflecting revenue growth, cost containment and

favourable  foreign  exchange  rate  movements)  from  its  Canadian,  U.K.,  European  and

International operations.

Interest expense.

Interest expense decreased in 2002 due to the benefit of the company’s

interest  rate  swaps,  partially  offset  by  the  impact  of  interest  on  OdysseyRe’s  external  debt

issued  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2001  and  at  the  end  of  the  second  quarter  of  2002  (interest

expense on OdysseyRe’s debt amounted to $12.1 for 2002) and interest on the consideration

payable with respect to the acquisition of an additional interest in TRG. In the third quarter of

2002,  the  company  terminated  its  fixed  rate  to  floating  rate  interest  rate  swaps,  with  the

resulting gain being deferred and amortized against future interest expenses.

Swiss  Re  premium. As  part  of  its  acquisition  of  TIG  effective  April  13,  1999,  Fairfax

purchased the Swiss Re Cover, a US$1 billion corporate insurance cover ultimately reinsured

with  a  Swiss  Re  subsidiary,  protecting  it  on  an  aggregate  basis  from  adverse  development  in

claims  and  unrecoverable  reinsurance  above  the  aggregate  reserves  set  up  by  all  of  its

64

subsidiaries (including TIG Specialty Insurance and Odyssey America Re (formerly TIG Re) but

not  including  other  subsidiaries  acquired  after  1998)  at  December  31,  1998.  With  the

OdysseyRe  IPO,  effective  June  14,  2001  Odyssey  America  Re’s  and  Odyssey  Reinsurance

Corporation’s claims and unrecoverable reinsurance were no longer protected by the Swiss Re

Cover.

In 2002, Fairfax strengthened 1998 and prior reserves and ceded these losses of $8.0 (US$5.1) to

the Swiss Re Cover for which it will pay an additional premium of $4.2 (US$2.7) to a funds

withheld trust account for the benefit of the Swiss Re subsidiary providing the cover. For the

year ended December 31, 2002, investment income (including realized gains) from the assets

in the trust account of $78.6 (US$50.0) exceeded the contractual 7% interest credit to the funds

withheld  account  by  $46.0  (US$29.2).  Since  inception  of  the  trust  account,  the  cumulative

investment income (including realized gains) has exceeded the cumulative contractual interest

credit  by  $54.5  (US$34.2).  The  cessions  by  operating  segment  to  the  Swiss  Re  Cover  since

inception have been as follows:

2002

2001

2000

1999

Cumulative

Canadian insurance

U.S. insurance

Reinsurance

Runoff

Kingsmead

Total

(US$)

(9.7)

(3.2)

166.6

186.1

22.6

89.0

4.0

53.3

14.9

–

11.3

94.9

–

79.6

18.0

203.8

272.5

251.1

(0.1)

2.9

–

2.3

–

5.1

(1.7)

450.5

75.9

185.8

22.0

732.5

As shown in the table, the majority of the cumulative cessions to the Swiss Re Cover resulted

from U.S. insurance reserve deficiencies of $450.5 (including $350.7 from TIG and Ranger) and

runoff deficiencies of $185.8 (mainly from Sphere Drake).

The premium cost for the Swiss Re Cover was $4.2 for 2002 compared with $143.6 for 2001,

reflecting substantially lower cessions. As of December 31, 2002, the benefits of the Swiss Re

Cover have been assigned to ORC Re, as discussed in the third paragraph on page 63.

Corporate  overhead  and  other. Corporate  overhead  and  other  consists  of  holding

company  expenses  net  of  interest  income  on  Fairfax’s  cash  balances.  Holding  company

expenses  consist  primarily  of  compensation  related  costs  of  $33.7  and professional  fees  of

$10.9  at  the  Fairfax  holding  companies  and  Hamblin  Watsa,  $21.1  in  costs  for  Fairfax’s

internal  e-commerce  service  company,  and  expenses  of  $7.8  at  the  OdysseyRe  holding

company.

Other  costs  and  charges. Other  costs  and  charges  of  $14.2  in  2002  are  comprised

principally of severance costs at Crum & Forster and at Ranger on its integration with TIG, and

costs incurred in connection with Crum & Forster’s contemplated IPO.

Taxes. The company recorded a provision for income taxes in 2002 as a result of operating

profits in Canada and the United States compared with a recovery for income taxes in 2001 due

to income earned outside Canada at lower rates of tax and operating losses in higher tax rate

65

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

jurisdictions,  all  as  summarized  in  the  income  tax  rate  reconciliation  table  in  note  9  to  the

financial statements.

Non-controlling interests. The non-controlling interests on the company’s consolidated

statements  of  earnings  represent  the  26.2%  public  minority  interest  in  OdysseyRe,  Xerox’s

72.5% economic interest in TRG to December 16, 2002 and the 25.0% public minority interest

in Lindsey Morden, as summarized in the table below.

OdysseyRe

TRG

Lindsey Morden

2002

2001

62.4

21.6

(4.4)

(23.2)

21.7

(2.0)

79.6

(3.5)

Balance Sheet Analysis

Cash  and  short  term  investments  and  Marketable  securities  consist  of  the  holding

company’s  cash  deposits  and  short  term  investments  which  it  maintains  as  a  safety  net  to

ensure that it can cover its debt service and operating requirements for some years even if its

insurance subsidiaries pay no dividends (see the discussion on page 111). Cash and short term

investments  consist  of  the  company’s  bank  operating  account,  overnight  bank  deposits  and

investments  in  short  term  government  treasury  bills.  Marketable  securities  include  the

company’s investments in various equities.

Accounts  receivable  and  other  consists  of  premiums  receivable  (net  of  provisions  for

uncollectible  amounts)  of  $2.3  billion,  funds  withheld  receivables  from  cedants  and  other

reinsurance  balances  of  $434.7,  receivables  for  securities  sold  of  $260.2,  accrued  interest  of

$146.5, prepaid expenses of $91.6 and other accounts receivable of $356.1.

Recoverable from reinsurers consists of future recoveries on unpaid claims ($10.4 billion),

reinsurance  receivable  on  paid  losses  ($1.0  billion)  and  unearned  premiums  from  reinsurers

($637.9).  Excluding  current  recoverables,  the  company’s  insurance,  reinsurance  and  runoff

companies, with a combined statutory surplus of $6.1 billion, had an aggregate of $10.4 billion

of future recoveries from reinsurers on unpaid claims, a ratio of recoveries to surplus which is

within  industry  norms.  Please  see  Reinsurance  Recoverables  beginning  on  page  98  for  a

detailed discussion of amounts recoverable from reinsurers.

Investments  in  Hub,  Zenith  National  and  Advent  represent  Fairfax’s  investment  in

28.7%-owned  Hub  International  Limited  ($147.7)  and  42.0%-owned  Zenith  National

Insurance  Corp.  ($338.6),  both  of  which  are  publicly  listed  companies,  and  46.8%-owned

Advent Capital Holdings PLC ($73.4).

Deferred  premium  acquisition  costs  (DPAC)  consist  of  brokers’  commissions  and

premium taxes. These are deferred, together with the related unearned premiums (UPR), and

amortized  to  income  over  the  term  of  the  underlying  insurance  policies.  Unlike  many

companies in the insurance industry, the company does not defer internal underwriting costs

as  part  of  DPAC  and  the  recoverability  of  DPAC  is  determined  without  giving  credit  to

investment income. The ratio of DPAC to UPR (18.0% at December 31, 2002) varies from time

66

to  time  depending  on  the  mix  of  business  being  written  and  the  estimated  recoverability  of

DPAC given expected loss ratios on the UPR.

Future  income  taxes  represent  amounts  expected  to  be  recovered  in  future  years.  At

December 31, 2002 future income taxes of $1,544.0 (of which $1,102 related to Fairfax Inc.,

Fairfax’s U.S. holding company, and subsidiaries in its U.S. consolidated tax group) consisted

of $1,004.7 of capitalized operating and capital losses ($1,032.9 gross less a valuation allowance

of $28.2), and timing differences of $539.3 which represent expenses recorded in the financial

statements  but  not  yet  deducted  for  income  tax  purposes.  The  capitalized  operating  losses

relate  primarily  to  Fairfax  Inc.  and  its  U.S.  subsidiaries  ($795,  including  $430  arising  on  the

acquisition  of  TIG  in  1999),  where  90%  of  the  losses  expire  between  2019  and  2022  (none

expire  before  2010),  the  Canadian  holding  company  ($23.9),  Sphere  Drake  ($92.2)  and  CTR

($31.8).

At  December  31,  2002,  Fairfax’s  U.S.  consolidated  tax  group  owned  less  than  80%  of

OdysseyRe’s  outstanding  shares  and  was  therefore  unable  to  consolidate  OdysseyRe  for  tax

purposes. Following the acquisition of TIG in 1999, the U.S. consolidated tax group has had

net operating losses. With the discontinuance of TIG’s MGA – controlled program business and

the profitability of Crum & Forster and the other continuing companies, Fairfax expects these

net operating losses will be used well within the loss carryforward period.

In  order  to  more  quickly  use  its  future  income  tax  asset  and  for  the  cash  flow  benefit  of

receiving tax sharing payments from OdysseyRe, the company determined that it would be in

its best interests to increase its approximately 73.8% interest in OdysseyRe to in excess of 80%,

so that OdysseyRe would be included in Fairfax’s U.S. consolidated tax group. Consequently,

on  March  3,  2003,  pursuant  to  a  private  agreement,  Fairfax  Inc.  purchased  4,300,000

outstanding  common  shares  of  OdysseyRe  for  US$78.0  (the  market  price  at  closing).  As

consideration,  Fairfax  Inc.  issued  US$78.0  of  7-year  3.15%  notes  exchangeable  half  in

November  2004  into  2,150,000  OdysseyRe  common  shares  and  half  in  February  2005  into

2,150,000 OdysseyRe common shares.

Fairfax has determined that no valuation allowance is required on its future income tax asset as

at December 31, 2002 beyond the above-mentioned $28.2 ($58.7 at December 31, 2001: the

reduction in 2002 derives from a reduction of the valuation allowance related to its U.K. assets)

comprised in its $1,544.0 net asset. Differences between expected and actual future operating

results  could  adversely  impact  the  company’s  ability  to  realize  the  future  income  tax  asset

within  a  reasonable  period  of  time  given  the  inherent  uncertainty  in  projecting  operating

company earnings and industry conditions beyond a three to four year period. The company

expects to realize the benefit of these capitalized losses from future profitable operations during

the loss carryforward period.

The  above-mentioned  $28.2  valuation  allowance  recognizes  the  uncertainty  in  realizing  the

benefit of certain of the operating losses depending on the jurisdiction and on the time limit

before  the  losses  expire.  In  determining  the  need  for  a  valuation  allowance,  management

considers  current  and  expected  profitability  of  the  companies  and  actions  being  taken  to

improve  profitability,  including  the  elimination  of  poor  performing  business.  Management

reviews the recoverability of the future tax asset and the valuation allowance on a quarterly

67

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

basis.  The  timing  differences  principally  relate  to  insurance-related  balances  such  as  claims,

DPAC and UPR; such timing differences are expected to continue for the foreseeable future in

light of the company’s ongoing operations.

Goodwill arises on the acquisition of companies where the purchase price paid exceeds the

fair value of the underlying net tangible assets acquired. Goodwill at December 31, 2002 arises

from  Lindsey  Morden  ($251.7),  Lombard’s  acquisition  of  brokers  ($21.6),  Crum  &  Forster’s

acquisition  of  Seneca  and  Transnational  ($11.5),  Falcon  ($7.0)  and  First  Capital  ($1.0).  In

accordance with changes in Canadian accounting standards, effective January 1, 2002 goodwill

is no longer amortized to earnings but will be subject to writeoff if and when it is determined

that an impairment in value exists. The company assesses the carrying value of goodwill based

on the underlying discounted cash flows and operating results of its subsidiaries. Management

has  compared  the  carrying  value  of  goodwill  balances  as  at  December  31,  2002  and  the

estimated  fair  values  of  the  underlying  operations  and  concluded  that  there  was  no

impairment in the value of goodwill.

Other  assets  include  loans  receivable  and  shares  held  in  connection  with  the  company’s

management  share  purchase  and  restricted  stock  grant  programs  and  miscellaneous  other

balances.

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  include  employee  related  liabilities,  amounts

due to brokers and agents including contingent commissions, liabilities for operating expenses

incurred  in  the  normal  course  of  business,  dividends  payable  to  policyholders,  salvage  and

subrogation payable and other similar balances.

Funds  withheld  payable  to  reinsurers  represent  premiums  and  accumulated  accrued

interest  (at  an  average  interest  crediting  rate  of  approximately  7%  per  annum)  on  aggregate

stop  loss  reinsurance  treaties,  principally  relating  to  the  Swiss  Re  Cover  ($505.8),  OdysseyRe

($368.3),  Crum  &  Forster  ($325.2)  and  TIG  ($244.5).  In  2002,  $120.8  of  interest  expense

accrued  to  reinsurers  on  these  funds  withheld;  the  company’s  total  interest  and  dividend

income of $657.7 in 2002 was net of this interest expense. The impact of the interest crediting

rate  on  funds  withheld  payable  to  reinsurers  on  the  gross  investment  yield  from  the

investment portfolio is discussed on page 105. Claims payable under such treaties are paid first

out of the funds withheld balances.

Provision for claims consists of the gross amount of individual case reserves established by

the insurance and runoff companies, individual case estimates reported by ceding companies

to the reinsurance (or runoff) companies and management’s estimate of claims incurred but

not  reported  (IBNR)  based  on  the  volume  of  business  currently  in  force  and  the  historical

experience  on  claims.  Please  see  Provision  for  Claims  beginning  on  page  69  for  a  detailed

discussion of the company’s provision for claims.

Unearned premiums are described above under Deferred premium acquisition costs.

Purchase consideration payable is the discounted amount payable over the next 15 years

for acquiring an additional interest in TRG, as described on page 61.

Non-controlling  interests  on  the  company’s  consolidated  balance  sheets  represent  the

minority shareholders’ 26.2% share of the underlying net assets of OdysseyRe ($424.2), 25.0%

68

share  of  the  underlying  net  assets  of  Lindsey  Morden  ($62.0)  and  44.0%  share  of  the

underlying  net  assets  of  OdysseyRe’s  subsidiary,  First  Capital  ($21.9).  All  of  the  assets  and

liabilities,  including  long  term  debt,  of  these  companies  are  included  in  the  company’s

consolidated balance sheet.

Excess of net assets acquired over purchase price paid (negative goodwill) represents

the aggregate unamortized amount of such excess,  which arose as a  result of the company’s

acquisition of certain companies at prices less than the fair value of the underlying net tangible

assets acquired. In accordance with changes in Canadian accounting standards, the balance of

negative goodwill of $51.4 was added to the company’s retained earnings as of January 1, 2002

as described in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

Provision for Claims

Since 1985, in order to ensure so far as possible that the company’s provision for claims (often

called ‘‘reserves’’) is adequate, management has established procedures so that the provision

for claims at the company’s insurance, reinsurance and runoff operations are subject to several

reviews, including by one or more independent actuaries. The reserves are reviewed separately

by, and must be acceptable to, internal actuaries at each operating company, the chief actuary

at  Fairfax’s  head  office,  and  one  or  more  independent  actuaries,  including  an  independent

valuation actuary whose report appears in each Annual Report.

As noted in the Valuation Actuary’s Report on page 29, Fairfax records the provision for claims

on an undiscounted basis. Except in cases where the discount is offset by a credit in Fairfax’s

acquisition  accounting,  Fairfax’s  property  and  casualty  insurance, reinsurance  and  runoff

subsidiaries’  reserves  are  recorded  on  an  undiscounted  basis,  in  accordance  with  Fairfax’s

accounting policy, and consequently none of these subsidiaries generate earnings by virtue of

discounting reserves.

In the ordinary course of carrying on their business, Fairfax’s insurance, reinsurance and runoff

companies  pledge  their  own  assets  as  security  for  their  own  obligations  to  pay  claims  or  to

make  premium  (and  accrued  interest)  payments.  Common  situations  where  assets  are  so

pledged,  either  directly,  or  to  support  letters  of  credit  issued  for  the  following  purposes,  are

regulatory deposits (such as with states for workers compensation business), deposits of funds

at  Lloyd’s  in  support  of  London  market  underwriting,  and  the  provision  of  security  as  a

non-admitted  company,  as  security  for  claims  assumed  or  to  support  funds  withheld

obligations. Generally, the pledged assets are released as the underlying payment obligation is

fulfilled.  The  $3.8  billion  of  cash  and  investments  pledged  by  the  company’s  subsidiaries,

referred to in note 3 to the financial statements, has been pledged in the ordinary course of

business  to  support  the  subsidiary’s  own  obligations,  as  described  in  this  paragraph  (these

pledges  do  not  involve  the  cross-collateralization  by  one  group  company  of  another  group

company’s obligations).

Claim provisions are established by the case method as claims are reported. The provisions are

subsequently adjusted as additional information on the estimated amount of a claim becomes

known  during  the  course  of  its  settlement.  A  provision  is  also  made  for  management’s

calculation of factors affecting the future development of claims including IBNR based on the

volume of business currently in force and the historical experience on claims.

69

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

As time passes, more information about the claims becomes known and provision estimates are

appropriately adjusted upward or downward. Because of the estimation elements encompassed

in this process, and the time it takes to settle many of the more substantial claims, several years

are required before a meaningful comparison of actual losses to the original provisions can be

developed.

The development of the provision for claims is shown by the difference between estimates of

reserves as of the initial year-end and the re-estimated liability at each subsequent year-end.

This is based on actual payments in full or partial settlement of claims, plus re-estimates of the

reserves  required  for  claims  still  open  or  claims  still  unreported.  Unfavourable  development

means that the original reserve estimates were lower than subsequently indicated. The $528.9

aggregate  unfavourable  development  in  2002,  of  which  $336.1  relates  to  TIG  (included  in

runoff), is comprised as shown in the following table:

Canadian insurance subsidiaries
U.S. insurance subsidiaries
Reinsurance subsidiaries
Runoff subsidiaries

(1.7)
37.1
128.9
364.6

528.9

70

The following table presents a reconciliation of the provision for claims and loss adjustment

expense (LAE) for the insurance, reinsurance and runoff lines of business for the past five years.

As  shown  in  the  table,  the  sum  of  the  provision  for  claims  for  all  of  Fairfax’s  insurance,

reinsurance and runoff subsidiaries is $21,165.1 as at December 31, 2002 – the amount shown

as Provision for claims on Fairfax’s consolidated balance sheet on page 25.

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims

and LAE as at December 31

Insurance subsidiaries owned

throughout the year – net of
indemnification

Insurance subsidiaries acquired

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

3,511.0

5,603.8

5,538.5

4,258.2

1,107.6

during the year

64.0

25.7

71.4

1,187.2

3,802.8

Total insurance subsidiaries

3,575.0

5,629.5

5,609.9

5,445.4

4,910.4

Reinsurance subsidiaries owned

throughout the year

3,669.0

3,356.7

3,641.3

2,732.9

2,981.6

Reinsurance subsidiaries acquired

during the year

16.2

–

–

1,394.9

1,362.3

Total reinsurance subsidiaries

3,685.2

3,356.7

3,641.3

4,127.8

4,343.9

Runoff subsidiaries owned
throughout the year

Runoff subsidiaries acquired during

4,438.8

2,448.6

2,307.7

1,733.0

the year

–

–

–

873.3

Total runoff subsidiaries

4,438.8

2,448.6

2,307.7

2,606.3

–

–

–

Federated Life
Ranger indemnification

28.9
–

29.4
–

30.7
–

28.5
–

26.7
14.0

Total provision for claims and LAE
Reinsurance gross-up

11,727.9
9,437.2

11,464.2
10,621.6

11,589.6
8,636.2

12,208.0
8,234.2

9,295.0
3,866.2

Total including gross-up

21,165.1

22,085.8

20,225.8

20,442.2

13,161.2

The  seven  tables  that  follow  show  the  reconciliation  and  the  reserve  development  of  the

insurance  (Canadian  and  U.S.),  reinsurance  and  runoff  subsidiaries’  provision  for  claims,

before the Swiss Re Cover. Cessions to the Swiss Re Cover by group for 2002 and prior years are

set out under Swiss Re premium on page 65. Because business is written in various locations,

there  will  necessarily  be  some  distortions  caused  by  foreign  exchange  fluctuations.  The

insurance subsidiaries’ tables are presented in Canadian dollars for the Canadian subsidiaries

and in U.S. dollars for the U.S. subsidiaries. The reinsurance and runoff subsidiaries’ tables are

presented in U.S. dollars as the reinsurance and runoff businesses are substantially transacted

in that currency.

71

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Canadian Insurance Subsidiaries

The  following  table  shows  for  Fairfax’s  Canadian  insurance  subsidiaries  the  provision  for

claims liability for unpaid losses and LAE as originally and as currently estimated for the years

1998 through 2002. The favourable or unfavourable development from prior years is credited

or charged to each year’s earnings.

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims –

Canadian Insurance Subsidiaries

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

Provision for claims and LAE at January 1

934.8

896.1

890.4

818.8

764.0

Incurred losses on claims and LAE

Provision for current accident year’s claims

652.0

537.3

502.8

561.0

545.3

Increase (decrease) in provision for prior

accident years’ claims

(1.7)

43.6

(17.1)

(8.0)

(2.5)

Total incurred losses on claims and LAE

650.3

580.9

485.7

553.0

542.8

Payments for losses on claims and LAE

Payments on current accident year’s claims

(254.2)

(245.5)

(215.0)

(231.0)

(239.4)

Payments on prior accident years’ claims

(297.9)

(296.7)

(265.0)

(250.4)

(248.6)

Total payments for losses on claims and LAE

(552.1)

(542.2)

(480.0)

(481.4)

(488.0)

Provision for claims and LAE at December 31

1,033.0

934.8

896.1

890.4

818.8

The company strives to establish adequate provisions at the original valuation date. It is the

company’s objective to have favourable development from the past. The reserves will always be

subject to upward or downward development in the future.

The following table shows for Fairfax’s Canadian insurance subsidiaries the original provision

for  claims  reserves  including  LAE  at  each  calendar  year-end  commencing  in  1992  with  the

subsequent  cumulative  payments  made  from  these  years  and  the  subsequent  re-estimated

amount of these reserves. The following Canadian insurance subsidiaries’ reserves are included

from the respective years in which such subsidiaries were acquired:

Markel

Federated

Commonwealth

Lombard (and CRC (Bermuda))

Year
Acquired

1985

1990

1990

1994

72

Provision for Canadian Insurance Subsidiaries’ Claims Reserve Development

As at
December 31

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Provision for claims including LAE

179.6 185.0 673.8 695.3 746.1 764.0 818.8 890.4 896.1 934.8 1,033.0

Cumulative payments as of:

One year later

Two years later

Three years later

Four years later

Five years later

Six years later

Seven years later

Eight years later

Nine years later

Ten years later

Reserves re-estimated as of:

One year later

Two years later

Three years later

Four years later

Five years later

Six years later

Seven years later

Eight years later

Nine years later

Ten years later

56.8

63.0 233.8 219.9 238.9 248.6 250.4 265.0 296.7 297.9

87.9 105.5 351.6 355.0 386.4 392.7 409.9 439.6 489.1

110.6 127.4 457.7 455.3 494.0 504.8 536.7 594.8

126.1 147.3 525.5 532.0 577.1 588.6 642.9

137.7 159.5 577.5 585.8 633.4 651.7

146.0 166.0 612.7 628.0 672.7

150.6 170.9 645.7 653.5

154.1 175.0 663.2

157.7 177.1

159.1

179.9 187.8 677.9 678.6 734.1 761.6 810.8 873.3 939.7 933.1

174.8 191.8 676.8 692.9 743.4 758.6 808.3 902.5 948.1

171.8 197.8 685.7 704.4 748.5 757.0 833.8 915.4

177.5 198.7 688.8 707.1 750.2 780.5 842.0

177.4 199.3 695.9 705.7 764.6 788.6

178.0 197.7 694.5 718.1 774.4

175.9 198.8 709.7 727.0

178.0 198.7 718.0

177.4 208.2

186.4

Favourable (unfavourable)

development

(6.8)

(23.2)

(44.2)

(31.7)

(28.3)

(24.6)

(23.2)

(25.0)

(52.0)

1.7

Note that when in any year there is a reserve strengthening or redundancy for a prior year, the

amount  of  the  change  in  favourable  (unfavourable)  development  thereby  reflected  for  that

prior  year  is  also  reflected  in  the  favourable  (unfavourable)  development  for  each  year

thereafter.

After $43.6 of unfavourable development in 2001, as explained in the 2001 Annual Report, the

Canadian  insurance  subsidiaries  had  favourable  development  of  $1.7  in  2002,  consisting  of

favourable  development  at  Federated  ($8.8)  and  Lombard  ($4.8),  partially  offset  by

unfavourable  development  at  Markel  ($2.0)  and  Commonwealth  ($9.9).  Markel’s  adverse

development  resulted  from  changes  in  internal  claim  management  practices  and  primarily

affected  the  1999  and  2000  accident  years;  it  has  been  conservatively  treated  as  adverse

development rather than as an earlier recognition of the losses with an offsetting reduction in

IBNR. Commonwealth’s adverse development relates to exposure on pre-1990 claims.

Future  development  could  be  significantly  different  from  the  past  due  to  many  unknown

factors.

U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries

The  following  table  shows  for  Fairfax’s  U.S.  insurance  subsidiaries  the  provision  for  claims

liability for unpaid losses and LAE as originally and as currently estimated for the years 1998

through  2002.  The  favourable  or  unfavourable  development  from  prior  years  is  credited  or

charged to each year’s earnings.

73

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims –

U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries

Provision for claims and LAE at

January 1 for Ranger, for C&F and
Falcon beginning in 1999, for TIG
beginning in 2000, for Seneca
beginning in 2001 and for
Winterthur (Asia) beginning in 2002

Incurred losses on claims and LAE

Provision for claims and LAE for TIG
transferred to runoff at January 1

Provision for current accident year’s

claims

Increase in provision for prior

accident years’ claims

2002
(US$)

2001
(US$)

2000
(US$)

1999
(US$)

1998
(US$)

2,941.0

3,138.3

3,138.6

2,693.9

184.0

(1,242.6)

–

–

–

–

628.6

1,448.3

1,317.1

624.7

104.5

Total incurred losses on claims and LAE

652.2

1,517.7

1,601.9

23.6

69.4

284.8

29.8

654.5

43.8

148.3

Payments for losses on claims and LAE

Payments on current accident

year’s claims

Payments on prior accident

years’ claims

Total payments for losses on claims

(179.4)

(434.7)

(434.6)

(272.5)

(40.5)

(602.6)

(1,296.4)

(1,215.1)

(755.3)

(70.1)

and LAE

(782.0)

(1,731.1)

(1,649.7)

(1,027.8)

(110.6)

Provision for claims and LAE at

December 31

Provision for claims and LAE for Old

Lyme at December 31

Provision for claims and LAE for

Winterthur (Asia) at December 31
Provision for claims and LAE for Seneca

Insurance at December 31

Provision for claims and LAE for TIG

Specialty Insurance
at December 31

Provision for claims and LAE for C&F at

December 31

Provision for claims and LAE for Falcon

at December 31

Provision for claims and LAE for U.S.

insurance subsidiaries at December 31
before indemnification
Reserve indemnification

Provision for claims and LAE for U.S.

insurance subsidiaries after
indemnification

Exchange rate
Converted to Canadian dollars

1,568.6

2,924.9

3,090.8

2,320.6

221.7

40.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

16.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

47.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

818.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,466.7

5.5

1,609.1
–

2,941.0
–

3,138.3
–

3,138.6
–

2,693.9
(34.0)

1,609.1
1.5798

2,659.9
1.5382
C$2,542.0 C$4,694.7 C$4,713.8 C$4,555.0 C$4,091.6

2,941.0
1.5963

3,138.3
1.5020

3,138.6
1.4513

The company strives to establish adequate provisions at the original valuation date. It is the

company’s objective to have favourable development from the past. The reserves will always be

subject to upward or downward development in the future.

74

The  following  table  shows  for  Fairfax’s  U.S.  insurance  subsidiaries  the  original  provision  for

claims  reserves  including  LAE  at  each  calendar  year-end  commencing  in  1993  (the  date  of

Ranger’s acquisition) with the subsequent cumulative payments made from these years and the

subsequent re-estimated amounts of these reserves. The following U.S. insurance subsidiaries’

reserves are included from the respective years in which such subsidiaries were acquired:

Ranger
C&F
Falcon
TIG
Seneca
Winterthur (Asia)
Old Lyme

Year Acquired

1993
1998
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002

Provision for U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries’ Claims Reserve Development

As at
December 31

Provision for claims
including LAE
Provision for claims

including LAE for TIG
(transferred to runoff)

Provision for claims
including LAE

Cumulative payments as of:
One year later
Two years later
Three years later
Four years later
Five years later
Six years later
Seven years later
Eight years later
Nine years later

Reserves re-estimated as of:
One year later
Two years later
Three years later
Four years later
Five years later
Six years later
Seven years later
Eight years later
Nine years later
Favourable (unfavourable)

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
(US$)
(US$)
(US$)

(US$)

(US$)

1998
(US$)

1999
(US$)

2000
(US$)

2001
(US$)

2002
(US$)

173.9 154.9 157.8 187.6 184.0 2,693.9 3,138.6 3,138.3 2,941.0 2,998.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

(769.0) (1,130.4) (1,242.6) (1,389.2)

173.9 154.9 157.8 187.6 184.0 2,693.9 2,369.6 2,007.9 1,698.4 1,609.1

602.6

79.8

69.4

78.5

89.1

804.7

755.3

807.3
70.1
141.7 130.0 119.9 125.3 128.0 1,363.2 1,428.1 1,193.4
169.3 158.7 135.2 157.5 168.9 1,822.7 1,701.8
185.8 166.9 155.2 184.1 212.8 2,067.3
188.3 179.9 171.8 204.6 222.7
194.4 193.9 174.8 209.3
197.7 193.3 175.3
196.5 192.7
195.3

171.4 191.0 183.2 196.3 227.8 2,723.7 2,406.8 1,998.5 1,722.0
199.6 206.9 190.9 229.1 236.3 2,715.8 2,460.8 2,016.8
214.5 216.8 210.8 236.3 251.9 2,765.8 2,474.2
222.2 226.0 212.9 246.7 279.0 2,781.0
227.6 229.8 216.2 261.1 279.0
229.4 232.0 220.6 261.1
232.9 235.7 220.6
236.8 235.7
236.8

development

(62.9) (80.8) (62.8) (73.5) (95.0)

(87.1)

(104.6)

(8.9)

(23.6)

Note that when in any year there is a reserve strengthening or redundancy for a prior year, the

amount  of  the  change  in  favourable  (unfavourable)  development  thereby  reflected  for  that

75

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

prior  year  is  also  reflected  in  the  favourable  (unfavourable)  development  for  each  year

thereafter.

The U.S. insurance subsidiaries had unfavourable development of US$23.6 in 2002. Crum &

Forster’s adverse development of US$20.9 resulted from World Trade Center losses of US$1.3,

uncollectible  third  party  deductibles  of  US$4.2,  uncollectible  reinsurance  and  commutation

costs  of  US$2.8,  involuntary  pools  of  US$3.4  and  unallocated  loss  adjustment  expenses  of

US$3.3, as well as a strengthening of asbestos, hazardous waste and other latent reserves for

accident  years  1998  and  prior  by  US$67.8  which  was  partially  offset  by  redundancies  of

US$61.9  in  non-latent  reserves  for  the  same  period.  Falcon  had  adverse  development  of

US$3.0, resulting from a reallocation of reinsurance recoveries between accident years, while

TIG’s  continuing  business  (including  Ranger)  had  favourable  development  of  US$0.3  (TIG’s

unfavourable  development  on  its  discontinued  business  is  included  in  the  runoff  segment).

Seneca had no significant changes in its prior years’ reserve estimates.

Future  development  could  be  significantly  different  from  the  past  due  to  many  unknown

factors.

Reinsurance Subsidiaries

The  following  table  shows  for  Fairfax’s  reinsurance  subsidiaries  the  provision  for  claims

liability for unpaid losses and LAE as originally and as currently estimated for the years 1998

through  2002.  The  favourable  or  unfavourable  development  from  prior  years  is  credited  or

charged to each year’s earnings.

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims –

Reinsurance Subsidiaries

Provision for claims and LAE at
January 1 (in 1997, only for
Odyssey Reinsurance
(New York) and Wentworth)

Provision for claims and LAE
for CTR, Sphere Drake,
RiverStone Stockholm and
Dai Tokyo (UK) (transferred
to runoff)

Adjusted provision for claims

2002
(US$)

2001
(US$)

2000
(US$)

1999
(US$)

1998
(US$)

2,102.8

2,424.3

2,844.2

2,824.0

2,157.7

–

(388.2)

(67.4)

(1,264.4)

–

and LAE at January 1

2,102.8

2,036.1

2,776.8

1,559.6

2,157.7

Incurred losses on claims and

LAE

Provision for current accident

year’s claims

926.1

739.6

523.6

623.7

504.3

Increase (decrease) in provision

for prior accident years’
claims

82.0

45.8

62.1

(15.9)

26.0

76

Total incurred losses on claims

and LAE

1,008.1

785.4

585.7

607.8

530.3

2002
(US$)

2001
(US$)

2000
(US$)

1999
(US$)

1998
(US$)

Payments for losses on claims

and LAE

Payments on current accident

year’s claims

(215.0)

(100.2)

(36.9)

(6.4)

(292.3)

Payments on prior accident

years’ claims

(573.5)

(618.5)

(901.3)

(277.9)

(457.3)

Total payments for losses on

claims and LAE

(788.5)

(718.7)

(938.2)

(284.3)

(749.6)

Provision for claims and LAE at

December 31

2,322.4

2,102.8

2,424.3

1,883.1

1,938.4

Provision for claims and LAE

for RiverStone Stockholm and
ORC Re at December 31
Provision for claims and LAE
for TIG Re at December 31
Provision for claims and LAE

for First Capital at
December 31

Provision for claims and LAE

for reinsurance subsidiaries at
December 31

Exchange rate
Converted to Canadian dollars

–

–

10.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

885.6

961.1

–

–

–

2,332.7
1.5798

2,824.0
1.5382
C$3,685.2 C$3,356.7 C$3,641.3 C$4,127.8 C$4,343.9

2,102.8
1.5963

2,424.3
1.5020

2,844.2
1.4513

The company strives to establish adequate provisions at the original valuation date. It is the

company’s objective to have favourable development from the past. The reserves will always be

subject to upward or downward development in the future.

The  following  table  shows  for  Fairfax’s  reinsurance  subsidiaries  the  original  provision  for

claims  reserves  including  LAE  at  each  calendar  year-end  commencing  in  1996  (the  date  of

Odyssey  Reinsurance  (New  York)’s  acquisition)  with  the  subsequent  cumulative  payments

made  from  these  years  and  the  subsequent  re-estimated  amount  of  these  reserves.  The

following  reinsurance  subsidiaries’  reserves  are  included  from  the  respective  years  in  which

such subsidiaries were acquired:

Wentworth

Odyssey Reinsurance (New York)

CTR (transferred to runoff January 1, 2001)

Sphere Drake (transferred to runoff July 1, 1999)

TIG Re (now Odyssey America Re)

First Capital

1996

1996

1997

1997

1999

2002

77

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Provision for Reinsurance Subsidiaries’ Claims Reserve Development

As at December 31

Provision for claims

1996
(US$)

1997
(US$)

1998
(US$)

1999
(US$)

2000
(US$)

2001
(US$)

2002
(US$)

including LAE

858.5 2,157.7 2,824.0 2,844.2 2,424.3 2,102.8 2,332.7

Provision for claims

including LAE for Sphere

Drake, RiverStone

Stockholm and Dai Tokyo

(UK) (transferred to runoff)

–

(886.5) (1,264.4)

(67.4)

–

Provision for claims

including LAE for CTR

(transferred to runoff)

–

(420.4)

(451.7)

(546.5)

(388.2)

–

–

–

–

Adjusted provision for claims

including LAE

858.5

850.8

1,107.9 2,230.3 2,036.1 2,102.8 2,332.7

Cumulative payments as of:

One year later

Two years later

Three years later

Four years later

Five years later

Six years later

Reserves re-estimated as of:

One year later

Two years later

Three years later

Four years later

Five years later

Six years later

Favourable (unfavourable)

119.7

124.9

50.3

630.8

618.5

573.5

229.1

231.5

180.1 1,111.8 1,033.0

314.0

332.6

288.5 1,403.9

387.6

410.0

352.8

447.8

464.4

505.3

850.6

833.6

1,113.9 2,239.5 2,081.9 2,184.8

834.3

840.5

1,132.5 2,262.7 2,175.8

857.2

847.8

1,117.8 2,348.0

868.9

820.1

1,132.2

852.1

819.6

851.9

development

6.6

31.2

(24.3)

(117.7)

(139.7)

(82.0)

Note that when in any year there is a reserve strengthening or redundancy for a prior year, the

amount  of  the  change  in  favourable  (unfavourable)  development  thereby  reflected  for  that

prior  year  is  also  reflected  in  the  favourable  (unfavourable)  development  for  each  year

thereafter.

The  unfavourable  development  of  US$82.0  in  2002  was  due  to  adverse  development  on  the

1996 to 2000 casualty business (US$95.0) in the Americas division (mostly from excess general

liability,  excess  workers  compensation  and  excess  medical  malpractice)  and  the  London

division (mostly from E&O, D&O, commercial auto liability and proportional quota shares on

U.S. MGA-controlled program business) and a strengthening of APH reserves for years prior to

1995  (US$15.0),  partially  offset  by  favourable  development  on  the  2001  accident  year  of

US$11.0 and 1995 and prior years of US$17.0. The unfavourable development of US$82.0 in

78

2002  and  of  $45.8  in  2001  to  a  large  extent  reflected  the  soft  insurance  markets  of  the  late

1990s.

Future  development  could  be  significantly  different  from  the  past  due  to  many  unknown

factors.

Runoff Subsidiaries

The following table shows for Fairfax’s runoff subsidiaries the provision for claims liability for

unpaid  losses  and  LAE  as  originally  and  as  currently  estimated  since  1998  (the  date  of

RiverStone Stockholm’s acquisition). The favourable or unfavourable development from prior

years is credited or charged to each year’s earnings.

79

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims –

Runoff Subsidiaries

Provision for claims and LAE at

January 1 for RiverStone Stockholm

and Sphere Drake, and for TRG

2002
(US$)

2001
(US$)

2000
(US$)

1999
(US$)

beginning in 2000

1,533.9

1,536.4

1,795.8

1,264.5

Provision for claims and LAE for CTR

and Dai Tokyo (UK) (transferred to

runoff)

–

388.2

67.4

Provision for claims and LAE for TIG

(transferred to runoff)

1,242.6

–

–

–

–

2,776.5

1,924.6

1,863.2

1,264.5

Incurred losses on claims and LAE

Foreign exchange effect on claims

31.7

24.8

5.0

(19.1)

Provision for current accident year’s

claims

647.6

46.5

155.7

187.8

Increase in provision for prior accident

years’ claims

Total incurred losses on claims and LAE

Payments for losses on claims and LAE

Payments on current accident year’s

232.0

911.3

184.8

256.1

123.1

283.8

40.7

209.4

claims

(132.8)

0.1

(46.7)

(99.4)

Payments on prior accident years’

claims

(745.3)

(646.9)

(563.9)

(180.4)

Total payments for losses on claims and

LAE

(878.1)

(646.8)

(610.6)

(279.8)

Provision for claims and LAE at

December 31

2,809.7

1,533.9

1,536.4

1,194.1

Provision for claims and LAE for TRG at

December 31

–

–

–

601.7

Provision for claims and LAE for runoff

subsidiaries at December 31

Exchange rate

2,809.7

1.5798

1,533.9

1.5963

1,536.4

1.5020

1,795.8

1.4513

Converted to Canadian dollars

C$4,438.8

C$2,448.6

C$2,307.7

C$2,606.3

The  unfavourable  development  of  US$232.0  in  2002  related  to  additional  development  of

TIG’s  and  Sphere  Drake’s  reserves  of  US$213.9  and US$28.1  respectively,  partially  offset  by

favourable  development  of  RiverStone  (UK)’s  reserves  of  US$10.0.  The  major  portion  (about

US$160)  of  the  development  of  TIG’s  reserves  related  to  workers  compensation,  sports  and

leisure  general  liability  and  medical  malpractice  business;  the  reserve  increases  in  these

80

businesses  were  mainly  from  the  2000  and  2001  accident  years,  although  the  workers

compensation line also experienced significant development on older accident years following

a  comprehensive  review  of  aged  pending  cases.  The  major  portion  of  the  rest  of  TIG’s

development related to environmental (ECRA) and excess casualty lines, and the commutation

of  a  ceded  aggregate  stop  loss  treaty;  the  development  in  these  areas  was  largely  from  older

accident years.

The company strives to establish adequate provisions at the original valuation date. It is the

company’s objective to have favourable development from the past. The reserves will always be

subject to upward or downward development in the future.

Asbestos, Pollution and Other Hazards

Note:

In  this  Asbestos,  Pollution  and  Other  Hazards  section,  figures  and  amounts  are  in  US$  and

$ millions except as otherwise indicated. Figures may not add due to rounding. Comparative figures

have been restated from those disclosed in the 2001 Annual Report to reflect the uniform exclusion of

unallocated loss adjustment expenses.

General APH Discussion

A number of Fairfax’s subsidiaries wrote general liability policies and reinsurance prior to their

acquisition  by  Fairfax  under  which  policyholders  continue  to  present  asbestos-related  injury

claims, claims alleging injury, damage or clean up costs arising from environmental pollution,

and other health hazard related claims (APH). The vast majority of these claims are presented

under policies written many years ago.

There  is  a  great  deal  of  uncertainty  surrounding  these  claims.  This  uncertainty  impacts  the

ability of insurers and reinsurers to estimate the ultimate amount of unpaid claims and related

settlement  expenses.  The  majority  of  these  claims  differ  from  any  other  type  of  contractual

claim because there is little consistent precedent to determine what, if any, coverage exists or

which,  if  any,  policy  years  and  insurers/reinsurers  may  be  liable.  These  uncertainties  are

exacerbated  by  inconsistent  court  decisions  and  judicial  and  legislative  interpretations  of

coverage  that  in  some  cases  have  eroded  the  clear  and  express  intent  of  the  parties  to  the

insurance contracts and in others have expanded theories of liability. The industry as a whole

is  engaged  in  extensive  litigation  over  these  coverages  and  liability  issues  and  is  thus

confronted with continuing uncertainty in its efforts to quantify APH exposures. As a result,

conventional  actuarial  reserving  techniques  cannot  be  used  to  estimate  the  ultimate  cost  of

such  claims  because  of  inadequate  development  patterns  and  inconsistent  emerging  legal

doctrine.

Since Fairfax’s acquisition of an interest in TRG in 1999, RiverStone has managed the group’s

direct APH claims. In light of the intensive claim settlement process for these claims, which

involves comprehensive fact gathering and subject matter expertise, management believes it is

prudent to have a centralized claim facility to handle these claims on behalf of all the Fairfax

groups.  RiverStone’s  APH  claim  staff  focuses  on  defending  the  company’s groups  against

unwarranted  claims,  pursuing  aggressive  claim  handling  and  proactive  resolution  strategies,

and  minimizing  costs.  Over  half  of  the  members  of  this  staff  are  attorneys  experienced  in

asbestos  and  environmental  pollution  liabilities.  At  OdysseyRe  a  dedicated  claim  unit  also

81

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

manages  its  APH  exposure.  This  unit  performs  audits  of  company  policyholders  with

significant asbestos and environmental pollution to assess their potential liabilities. This unit

also monitors developments within the insurance industry having a potential impact on their

reserves.

Following is an analysis of Fairfax’s gross and net loss and ALAE reserves from APH exposures at

year-end 2002, 2001, and 2000 and the movement in gross and net reserves for those years:

2002

2001

2000

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

U.S. Companies

Provision for APH claims and ALAE

at January 1

2,044.8

825.3

2,042.7

769.8

2,360.7

780.3

APH losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

218.0

116.1

289.1

119.2

365.7

140.7

APH losses and ALAE paid during

the year

321.3

64.8

287.0

63.7

683.6

151.1

Provision for APH claims and ALAE

at December 31

1,941.5

876.6

2,044.8

825.3

2,042.7

769.8

European Companies

Provision for APH claims and ALAE

at January 1(1)

APH losses and ALAE incurred

154.3

102.4

320.6

224.4

260.5

164.0

during the year

39.1

17.1

30.7

23.6

45.0

50.6

APH losses and ALAE paid during

the year

9.1

10.9

197.0

145.6

16.5

13.8

Provision for APH claims and ALAE

at December 31

184.2

108.5

154.3

102.4

289.1

200.8

Fairfax Total

Provision for APH claims and ALAE

at January 1(1)

APH losses and ALAE incurred

2,199.1

927.7

2,363.3

994.2

2,621.2

944.3

during the year

257.1

133.2

319.8

142.7

410.7

191.3

APH losses and ALAE paid during

the year

330.5

75.7

484.0

209.2

700.1

164.9

Provision for APH claims and ALAE

at December 31

2,125.7

985.2

2,199.1

927.7

2,331.8

970.7

(1) Reflects the inclusion of Dai Tokyo (UK) commencing in 2001

In 2001, the Fairfax groups commuted their assumed liabilities and reinsurance recoverables

(excluding  certain  facultative  contracts)  balances  with  Equitas,  and  settled  another

commutation  involving  substantial  APH  exposure  which  impacted  the  reported  paid  results

and reduced the outstanding APH exposures for the European subsidiaries by almost half. In

2000, there was a buyback and cancellation of a major APH exposure policy in Crum & Forster

(C&F)  (note  that  the  current  Crum  &  Forster  is  only  a  small  portion  of  the  much  larger

insurance  operation  known  some  time  back  as  Crum  &  Forster  before  it  was  divided  into

82

various  companies  which  were  sold  separately  by  Talegen).  These  commutations  were

beneficial to the company. However, because a commutation (which includes for this purpose

a buyback and cancellation) constitutes a prepayment of the commuted claims, the effect of

these  commutations  on  the  preceding  table  is  to  create  an  unrepresentative  amount  of  paid

claims in the year of commutation.

Asbestos Claim Discussion

Asbestos continues to be the most significant and difficult mass tort for the insurance industry

in  terms  of  claims  volume  and  dollar  exposure.  The  company  believes  that  the  insurance

industry  has  been  adversely  affected  by  judicial  interpretations  that  have  had  the  effect  of

maximizing  insurance  recoveries  for  asbestos  claims,  from  both  a  coverage  and  liability

perspective.  Generally  speaking,  only  policies  underwritten  prior  to  1986  have  potential

asbestos  exposure,  since  most  policies  underwritten  after  this  date  contained  an  absolute

asbestos exclusion.

Over the past few years the industry has experienced an increase over prior years in the number

of asbestos claimants, including claims by individuals who do not appear to be impaired by

asbestos  exposure.  It  is  generally  expected  throughout  the  industry  that  this  trend  will

continue. The reasons for this evident increase are many: more intensive advertising by lawyers

seeking  additional  claimants,  increased  focus  by  plaintiffs  on  new  and  previously  peripheral

defendants, and an increase in the number of entities seeking bankruptcy protection. To date,

this continued flow of claims has forced approximately 60 manufacturers and users of asbestos

products into bankruptcy. These bankruptcies have, in turn, aggravated both the volume and

the value of claims against viable asbestos defendants. Accordingly, there is a high degree of

uncertainty  with  respect  to  future  exposure  from  asbestos  claims,  both  in  identifying  which

additional  insureds  may  become  targets  in  the  future  and  in  predicting  the  total  number  of

asbestos claimants.

Many coverage disputes with insureds are resolved only through aggressive settlement efforts.

Settlements involving bankrupt insureds may include extensive releases which are favorable to

the  company’s subsidiaries,  but  which  could  result  in  settlements  for  larger  amounts  than

originally expected. As it has done in the past, RiverStone will continue to aggressively pursue

settlement opportunities.

Early  asbestos  claims  focused  on  manufacturers  and  distributors  of  asbestos-containing

products. Thus, the claims at issue largely arose out of the products hazard and typically fell

within the policies’ aggregate limits of liability. Increasingly, insureds have been asserting that

their asbestos claims are not subject to these aggregate limits and that each individual bodily

injury  claim  should  be  treated  as  a  separate  occurrence,  potentially  creating  even  greater

exposure for primary insurers. Generally, insureds who assert these positions are installers of

asbestos  products  or  property  owners  who  allegedly  had  asbestos  on  their  property.  In

addition,  in  an  effort  to  seek  additional  insurance  coverage  some  insureds  that  have  eroded

their aggregate limits are submitting new asbestos claims as ‘‘non-products’’ or attempting to

reclassify previously resolved claims as non-products claims. The extent to which insureds will

be successful in obtaining coverage on this basis is uncertain, and, accordingly, it is difficult to

predict the ultimate size of the claims for coverage not subject to aggregate limits.

83

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Following  is  an  analysis  of  Fairfax’s  gross  and  net  loss  and  ALAE  reserves  from  asbestos

exposures at year-end 2002, 2001, and 2000 and the movement in gross and net reserves for

those  years  (throughout  this  section  TIG  includes  Ranger,  and  for  consistency  and  the  best

presentation  for  understanding,  TIG  and  IIC  are  presented  separately,  notwithstanding  their

merger in December 2002):

2002

2001

2000

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

U.S. Companies

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at January 1

1,172.4

445.3

1,150.9

373.5

1,255.4

294.2

Asbestos losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

180.7

126.6

209.8

93.9

405.6

135.7

Asbestos losses and ALAE paid

during the year

149.0

36.1

188.3

22.1

510.1

56.4

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at December 31

1,204.1

535.8

1,172.4

445.3

1,150.9

373.5

European Companies

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at January 1(1)

Asbestos losses and ALAE incurred

96.6

60.1

246.3

165.9

188.9

111.4

during the year

34.4

12.2

28.3

21.7

38.4

41.2

Asbestos losses and ALAE paid

during the year

3.4

6.8

178.0

127.5

12.5

10.3

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at December 31

127.6

65.5

96.6

60.1

214.8

142.3

Fairfax Total

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at January 1(1)

Asbestos losses and ALAE incurred

1,269.0

505.4

1,397.4

539.3

1,444.2

405.5

during the year

215.1

138.9

238.1

115.6

444.0

176.9

Asbestos losses and ALAE paid

during the year

152.4

42.9

366.4

149.5

522.6

66.7

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at December 31

1,331.7

601.3

1,269.0

505.4

1,365.6

515.7

(1) Reflects the inclusion of Dai Tokyo (UK) commencing in 2001

84

Following  is  an  analysis  of  Fairfax’s  U.S.  based  subsidiaries’  gross  and  net  loss  and  ALAE

reserves for asbestos exposures at year-end 2002, 2001, and 2000 and the movement in gross

and net reserves for those years:

IIC

Provision for asbestos claims and

2002

2001

2000

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

ALAE at January 1

674.6

104.3

661.0

100.7

837.9

62.6

Asbestos losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

49.5

40.9

93.2

8.9

231.9

47.8

Asbestos losses and ALAE paid

during the year

83.7

4.9

79.7

5.3

408.8

9.7

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at December 31

640.3

140.3

674.6

104.3

661.0

100.7

C&F

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at January 1

261.5

228.1

236.2

174.1

254.5

164.4

Asbestos losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

103.7

67.5

75.9

69.3

51.0

39.3

Asbestos losses and ALAE paid

during the year

31.7

30.9

50.6

15.2

69.3

29.6

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at December 31

333.5

264.8

261.5

228.1

236.2

174.1

OdysseyRe(1)

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at January 1

193.8

107.4

205.6

89.2

118.2

54.7

Asbestos losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

20.8

11.7

39.6

15.7

114.0

50.3

Asbestos losses and ALAE paid

during the year

24.9

1.1

51.4

(2.5)

26.6

15.8

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at December 31

189.7

118.0

193.8

107.4

205.6

89.2

TIG

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at January 1

42.6

5.4

48.1

9.4

44.8

12.5

Asbestos losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

6.7

6.5

1.1

0.1

8.7

(1.8)

Asbestos losses and ALAE paid

during the year

8.8

(0.8)

6.6

4.1

5.4

1.3

Provision for asbestos claims and

ALAE at December 31

40.5

12.6

42.6

5.4

48.1

9.4

(1) Net reserves presented for OdysseyRe exclude cessions under a stop loss agreement with ORC Re

Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fairfax. In its financial disclosures OdysseyRe reports net

reserves inclusive of cessions under this reinsurance protection.

85

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

The  most  significant  individual  asbestos  exposures  involve  traditional  defendants  who

manufactured,  distributed  or  installed  asbestos  products  on  a  nationwide  basis.  IIC,  which

underwrote insurance generally for Fortune 500 type risks between 1971 and 1986 with mostly

high layer excess liability coverages (as opposed to primary or umbrella policies), is exposed to

these risks and has the bulk of the direct asbestos exposure within Fairfax. While these insureds

are relatively small in number, asbestos exposures for such entities have increased recently due

to  the  rising  volume  of  claims,  the  erosion  of  much  of  the  underlying  limits,  and  the

bankruptcies  of  target  defendants.  As  reflected  above,  these  direct  liabilities  are  very  highly

reinsured.

Fairfax’s other U.S. based insurers have asbestos exposure related mostly to insureds that are

peripheral  defendants,  including  a  mix  of  manufacturers,  distributors,  and  installers  of

asbestos-containing products as well as premise owners. For the most part, these insureds are

defendants on a regional rather than nationwide basis. As the financial assets and insurance

recoveries  of  traditional  asbestos  defendants  have  been  depleted,  plaintiffs  are  increasingly

focusing on these peripheral defendants. C&F is experiencing an increase in asbestos claims on

first umbrella policies; compared to IIC, these tend to be smaller insureds with a lower amount

of limits exposed. OdysseyRe has asbestos exposure arising from reinsurance contracts entered

into before 1984 under which liabilities, on an indemnity or assumption basis, was assumed

from ceding companies primarily in connection with general liability insurance policies issued

by such cedants. OdysseyRe was part of the Fairfax-wide commutation with Equitas in 2001

and recorded the proceeds received from Equitas as negative paid losses. This served to depress

losses paid during that year. TIG has both direct and reinsurance assumed asbestos exposures.

Like C&F, the direct exposure is characterized by smaller, regional businesses. Asbestos claims

presented to TIG have been, for the most part, primary general liability. TIG’s net retention on

its direct exposure is protected by an $89 asbestos and environmental (A&E) reinsurance cover

provided by Pyramid Insurance Company (owned by Aegon) which is fully collateralized and

reflected  in  the  above  table.  Additionally,  TIG’s  assumed  exposure  is  reinsured  by  ARC

Insurance  Company  (also  owned  by  Aegon)  and  the  current  ceded  balance  of  $170,  for  all

claim types, is fully collaterized.

Illustrating  the  above  discussion,  the  following  tables  present  analyses  of  the  underwriting

profiles of IIC, C&F, and TIG. The first table is an analysis of the estimated distribution of all

policies, listed by attachment point, against which asbestos claims have been presented:

Attachment Point

$0 to $1

$1 to $10

$10 to $20

$20 to $50

Above $50

Total

Estimated %
of Total Policies

IIC

9%

26%

31%

17%

17%

C&F

84%

13%

1%

1%

1%

TIG

77%

9%

4%

2%

8%

100% 100% 100%

86

The next table is similar, showing the distribution of these same policies by the total amount of

limits, as opposed to the total number of policies:

Attachment Point

$0 to $1

$1 to $10

$10 to $20

$20 to $50

Above $50

Total

Estimated % of
Total Policy Limits

IIC

5%

19%

29%

20%

27%

C&F

66%

26%

2%

3%

3%

TIG

15%

30%

11%

9%

35%

100% 100% 100%

Reserves for asbestos cannot be estimated with traditional loss reserving techniques that rely

on historical accident year loss development factors. Because each insured presents different

liability and coverage issues, two of the company’s subsidiaries, IIC and C&F, which have the

bulk of Fairfax’s asbestos liabilities, evaluate their asbestos exposure on an insured-by-insured

basis.  Since  the  mid-1990s  these  entities  have  utilized  sophisticated,  non-traditional

methodologies, which draw upon company experience and supplemental databases to assess

asbestos liabilities on reported claims. The methodology utilizes a comprehensive ground-up,

exposure-based  analysis,  which  constitutes  industry  ‘‘best  practice’’  approach  for  asbestos

reserving. The methodology was initially critiqued by outside legal and actuarial consultants

and the results are annually reviewed by independent actuaries, all of whom have consistently

found the methodology comprehensive and the results reasonable.

In  the  course  of  the  insured-by-insured  evaluation,  the  following  factors  are  considered:

available  insurance  coverage,  including  the  role  of  any  umbrella  or  excess  insurance  which

have been issued to the insured; limits, deductibles and self insured retentions; an analysis of

each  insured’s  potential  liability;  the  jurisdictions  involved;  past  and  anticipated  future

asbestos claim filings against the insured; loss development on pending claims; past settlement

values  of  similar  claims;  allocated  claim  adjustment  expenses;  the  potential  role  of  other

insurance;  and  applicable  coverage  defenses.  The  evaluations  are  based  on  current  trends

without any assumption of potentially favorable legislation in the future.

In addition to estimating liabilities for reported asbestos claims, IIC and C&F estimate reserves

for additional claims to be reported in the future as well the reopening of any claim closed in

the past. This component of the total reported IBNR reserve is estimated using information as

to  the  reporting  patterns  of  known  insureds,  historical  settlement  costs  per  insured,  and

characteristics  of  insureds  such  as  limits  exposed,  attachment  points,  and  the  number  of

coverage years.

Once  the  gross  ultimate  exposure  for  indemnity  and  allocated  loss  adjustment  expense  is

determined  for  each  insured  and  policy  year,  IIC  and  C&F  estimate  the  amount  ceded  to

reinsurers by reviewing the applicable facultative and treaty reinsurance, and examining past

ceded claim experience.

87

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Given the maturity of its asbestos reserving methodology and the favorable comments received

from  outside  parties,  both  IIC  and  C&F  believe  that  the  approach  is  reasonable  and

comprehensive.

Since their asbestos exposure is considerably less than IIC and C&F, OdysseyRe and TIG do not

use the above methodology to establish asbestos reserves. Case reserves are established where

sufficient information has been developed to indicate the involvement of a specific insurance

policy, and at OdysseyRe may include an additional amount as determined by the company’s

dedicated  asbestos  and  environmental  pollution  claims  unit  based  on  the  claims  audits  of

cedants. In addition, bulk IBNR reserves based on various methods such as loss development,

market  share,  and  frequency  and  severity  utilizing  industry  benchmarks  of  ultimate  liability

are established to cover additional exposures on both reported and unasserted claims as well as

for allocated claim adjustment costs.

The following table presents the carried gross reserves at IIC and C&F by insured category:

Number of % of Total
2002 Paid

Accounts

Total % of Total
Reserves

Reserves

Average
Reserve
per Account

IIC

Accounts with

Settlement Agreements

Structured Settlements

Coverage in Place

Total

Other Open Accounts

Active(1)
Not Active

Total

Additional Unallocated

IBNR

Total Direct

1

7

8

13

159

172

–

180

0.2%

95.1%

95.2%

2.2%

1.7%

3.9%

–

99.1%

47.6

290.8

338.4

57.9

89.8

147.6

111.0

597.0

Assumed Reinsurance

0.9%

43.3

48

42

42

4

1

1

7.4%

45.4%

52.8%

9.0%

14.0%

23.1%

17.3%

93.2%

6.8%

Total

100.0%

640.3

100.0%

88

Number of % of Total
2002 Paid

Accounts

Total % of Total
Reserves

Reserves

Average
Reserve
per Account

C&F

Accounts with

Settlement Agreements

Structured Settlements

Coverage in Place

Total

Other Open Accounts

Active(1)
Not Active

Total

Additional Unallocated

IBNR

Total Direct

1

3

4

127

296

423

–

427

0.0%

5.1%

5.1%

91.6%

3.3%

94.9%

1.9

31.3

33.2

170.0

62.4

232.4

0.6%

9.4%

9.9%

51.0%

18.7%

69.7%

–

68.0

20.4%

100.0%

333.5

100.0%

2

10

8

1

0

1

(1) Accounts with any past paid indemnity

As  shown,  the  majority  of  the  direct  asbestos  exposure  at  IIC  is  from  insureds  with  current

settlement agreements in place. The one listed active structured settlement is an agreement to a

fixed amount to be paid over a five-year period beginning in 2010. The carried reserves support

the ultimate stream of these payments without any consideration for discounting. The seven

coverage-in-place agreements provide specific amounts of insurance coverage and may include

annual  caps  on  payments.  Reserves  are  established  based  on  the  evaluation  of  the  various

exposure  factors  affecting  asbestos  claims  (these  were  previously  discussed  more  fully  in  the

above  paragraphs)  and  are  set  equal  to  the  undiscounted  expected  payout  under  each

agreement. Of all the other open accounts only 13 are considered active – i.e. an account with

a prior indemnity payment. These other open accounts are not deemed to be as significant and

arise mostly from ‘‘third tier’’ or smaller exposures, as the average expected gross loss for the

active  accounts  is  $4  as  compared  to  an  average  of  $42  for  those  accounts  with  settlement

agreements.  Reserves  for  each  of  these  other  open  accounts  are  also  established  based  on  a

similar exposure analyses. Additional unallocated IBNR represents a loss reserve provision for

additional claims to be reported in the future as well the reopening of any claim closed in the

past. (The considerations for this provision were previously discussed.) Reflecting its historical

underwriting  profile,  C&F  has  only  a  handful  of  settlement  agreements  in  place  as  the  vast

majority of its asbestos claims arise from peripheral defendants who tend to be smaller insureds

with a lower amount of limits exposed as evidenced by its low average gross reserve amount

per account. C&F is the lead insurer on fewer than 10% of its reported asbestos claims.

89

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Recently,  there  has  been  a  rash  of  bankruptcies  stemming  from  an  increase  in  asbestos

claimants and now totals some 60 companies. The following table presents an analysis of IIC’s

and C&F’s exposure to these entities and shows the potential future exposure:

IIC

C&F

Number of
Bankruptcies

Remaining
Policy Limits

Number of
Bankruptcies

Remaining
Policy Limits

No insurance

coverage issued to

policyholder

Accounts resolved

No exposure due to

asbestos

exclusions

Potential future

exposure

Total

42

11

2

5

60

–

–

–

112

112

44

13

0

3

60

–

–

–

16

16

As part of the overall review of its asbestos exposure, Fairfax compares its level of reserves to

various industry benchmarks. The most widely reported benchmark is the survival ratio, which

represents the outstanding loss and ALAE reserves (including IBNR) at December 31 divided by

the  average  paid  loss  and  ALAE  expenses  for  the  past  three  years.  The  three  year  historical

period  is  consistent  with  the  period  used  by  A.M.  Best  for  this  purpose.  Two  adjustments

should  be  made  to  make  this  statistic  meaningful.  One,  because  there  is  a  high  degree  of

certainty regarding the ultimate liabilities for those claims subject to settlement agreements, it

is appropriate to exclude those outstanding loss reserves and historical loss payments; and two,

additional reinsurance coverage which will protect any adverse development of the reported

reserves needs to be considered. The following table presents both the unadjusted and adjusted

asbestos survival ratios for IIC, C&F and OdysseyRe:

Amounts
Subject to
Settlements
Agreements

Amounts
Net of
Settlements
Agreements

Reported

IIC

Net Loss and ALAE Reserves

3-year average net paid losses and ALAE

3-year Survival Ratios (before reinsurance

protection)

3-year Survival Ratios (after reinsurance protection)

C&F

Net Loss and ALAE Reserves

3-year average net paid losses and ALAE

3-year Survival Ratios (before reinsurance

protection)

3-year Survival Ratios (after reinsurance protection)

140.3

6.6

21.2

24.9

264.8

25.2

10.5

17.0

4.2

1.2

11.6

8.7

136.1

5.4

25.1

29.7

253.2

16.5

15.3

25.3

90

OdysseyRe

Net Loss and ALAE Reserves

3-year average net paid losses and ALAE

3-year Survival Ratios

Adjusted 3-year Survival Ratios

(Adjusted for the Equitas commutation in 2001)

Amounts
Subject to
Settlements
Agreements

Amounts
Net of
Settlements
Agreements

–

–

118.0

4.8

24.6

8.6

Reported

118.0

4.8

24.6

8.6

The survival ratio after reinsurance protection includes the remaining indemnification at IIC of

$25 net from Ridge Re (this is the estimated portion of the remaining $101 indemnification

attributable  to  adverse  net  loss  reserve  development),  while  the  C&F  survival  ratio  after

reinsurance protection includes the remaining indemnification of $100 for Inter-Ocean (part

of the American Re group) and $65 for Swiss Re ($100 of limit less $35 premium cost).

Another industry benchmark which is reviewed by Fairfax is the relationship of asbestos loss

and  ALAE  reserves  to  the  estimated  ultimate  asbestos  loss –  i.e.  the  sum  of  cumulative  paid

losses  and  the  year-end  outstanding  loss  reserves.  These  comparisons  are  presented  in  the

following table:

IIC

Gross

Net

% of Total

% of Total

Paid Loss and ALAE as of 12/02(1)
Reserves (case and IBNR as of 12/02)

404.0

640.3

39%

61%

39.1

140.3

22%

78%

Ultimate Loss and ALAE as of 12/02

1,044.3

100%

179.5

100%

C&F

Paid Loss and ALAE as of 12/02

Reserves (case and IBNR as of 12/02)

Ultimate Loss and ALAE as of 12/02

OdysseyRe

Paid Loss and ALAE as of 12/02

Reserves (case and IBNR as of 12/02)

Ultimate Loss and ALAE as of 12/02

A.M. Best(2)

Paid Loss and ALAE as of 12/01

Reserves (case and IBNR as of 12/01)

Ultimate Loss and ALAE as of 12/01

433.0

333.5

766.5

322.0

189.7

511.7

56%

44%

208.4

264.8

44%

56%

100%

473.2

100%

63%

37%

107.9

118.0

48%

52%

100%

225.9

100%

24

41

65

37%

63%

100%

(1) Paid Loss and ALAE as of 12/02 excludes payments of $1,345 and $24, on a gross and net basis

respectively, from a settlement with one large asbestos manufacturer.

91

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

(2) Extracted from A.M. Best Report dated October 28, 2002. This report stated that the industry had

paid $24 billion on asbestos losses as of December 31, 2001, or about 37% of A.M. Best Co.’s

total ultimate industry loss estimate of $65 billion.

In  May  2001,  A.M.  Best  Co.  raised  its  estimate  of  ultimate  asbestos  losses  for  the  property/

casualty industry to $65 billion, from its 1997 estimate of $40 billion. Based on the fact that

the industry had cumulative paid-to-date losses of $24 billion, A.M. Best Co. estimated that the

industry would pay an additional $41 billion in the future to resolve its asbestos liabilities, or

about 63% of its indicated ultimate asbestos loss as of December 2001. This is in contrast to the

35% ratio based on actual reserves reported by the industry at that time.

As  a  result  of  the  processes,  procedures  and  analyses  described  above,  management  believes

that the reserves carried for asbestos claims at December 31, 2002 are appropriate based upon

known  facts,  current  law  and  management’s  judgment.  However,  there  are  a  number  of

uncertainties surrounding the ultimate value of these claims which may result in changes in

these  estimates  as  new  information  emerges.  Among  these  are  the  following:  the

unpredictability inherent in litigation, any impact from the bankruptcy protection sought by

asbestos  producers  and  defendants,  an  unanticipated  increase  in  the  number  of  asbestos

claimants, the resolution of disputes pertaining to the amount of coverage for ‘‘non-products’’

claims asserted under premises/operations general liability policies, and future developments

regarding the ability to recover reinsurance for asbestos claims. It is also not possible to predict,

nor has management assumed, any changes in the legal, social or economic environments and

their impact on future asbestos claim development. The carried asbestos reserves also do not

reflect any benefit from future legislative reforms.

Environmental Pollution Discussion

Hazardous waste sites present another significant potential exposure. The federal ‘‘Superfund’’

law and comparable state statutes govern the cleanup and restoration of toxic waste sites and

formalize the concept of legal liability for cleanup and restoration by ‘‘potentially responsible

parties’’ (PRPs). These laws establish the means to pay for cleanup of waste site if PRPs fail to do

so,  and  to  assign  liabilities  to  PRPs.  Most  PRPs  named  to  date  are  parties  who  have  been

generators, transporters, past or present land owners or past or present site operators. Most sites

have multiple PRPs. Most insurance policies issued to PRPs were not intended to cover the costs

of pollution cleanup. Pollution was not a recognized hazard at the time many of these policies

were  issued.  Over  time  judicial  interpretations  in  many  cases  have  expanded  the  scope  of

coverage  and  liability  beyond  the  original  intent  of  the  policies.  Since  1986,  however,  most

general liability policies exclude coverage for such exposures.

There is great uncertainty involved in estimating liabilities related to these exposures. First, the

number of waste sites subject to cleanup is unknown. To date, approximately 1,500 cleanup

sites have been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and included in its

National Priorities List (NPL). State authorities have identified many additional sites. Second,

the  liabilities  of  the  insured  themselves  are  difficult  to  estimate.  At  any  given  site,  the

allocation  of  remediation  cost  among  the  PRPs  varies  greatly  depending  upon  a  variety  of

factors. Third, different courts have been presented with liability and coverage issues regarding

92

pollution claims and have reached inconsistent decisions on several issues. These uncertainties

are unlikely to be resolved in the near future.

Uncertainties  also  remain  as  to  the  Superfund  law  itself.  The  excise  tax  imposed  to  fund

Superfund lapsed at the end of 1995 and has not been renewed. While a number of proposals

to reform Superfund have been put forward by various parties, no reforms have been enacted

by Congress since then. It is unclear what position Congress or the Bush administration will

take and what legislation, if any, will be enacted in the future. At this time, it is not possible to

predict  what  form  any  reforms  might  take  and  the  effect  on  the  insurance  industry.  In  the

absence of federal movement on Superfund, though, the enforcement of Superfund liability is

shifting  to  the  states  who  are  reconsidering  state-level  cleanup  statutes  and  regulations.  As

individual  states  move  forward,  the  potential  for  conflicts  among  states  becomes  greater,

increasing the uncertainty of the cost to remediate state sites.

Within Fairfax, environmental pollution losses have been developing as expected over the past

few  years  as  a  result  of  stable  claim  trends.  Claims  against  Fortune  500  companies  are

declining, and while insureds with single-site exposures are still active, RiverStone has resolved

the majority of disputes with respect to insureds with a large number of sites. In many cases,

claims  are  being  settled  for  less  than  initially  anticipated  due  to  improved  site  remediation

technology and effective policy buybacks.

Following  is  an  analysis  of  Fairfax’s  gross  and  net  loss  and  ALAE  reserves  from  pollution

exposures at year-end 2002, 2001, and 2000 and the movement in gross and net reserves for

those years:

2002

2001

2000

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

U.S. Companies

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

at January 1

657.8

306.1

664.9

333.8

816.4

409.2

Pollution losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

33.7

(14.4)

45.5

(0.2)

(66.4)

(24.6)

Pollution losses and ALAE paid during

the year

135.6

27.8

52.5

27.4

85.1

50.8

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

at December 31

556.0

263.9

657.8

306.1

664.9

333.8

European Companies

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

at January 1

57.7

42.3

74.3

58.5

71.6

52.7

Pollution losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

4.6

4.9

2.5

1.9

6.6

9.4

Pollution losses and ALAE paid during

the year

5.7

4.2

19.0

18.1

4.0

3.5

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

at December 31

56.6

43.0

57.7

42.3

74.3

58.5

93

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

2002

2001

2000

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Fairfax Total

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

at January 1

715.6

348.4

739.2

392.3

888.0

461.8

Pollution losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

38.3

(9.5)

48.0

1.6

(59.8)

(15.2)

Pollution losses and ALAE paid during

the year

141.3

32.0

71.5

45.5

89.1

54.3

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

at December 31

612.6

306.9

715.6

348.4

739.2

392.3

Following  is  an  analysis  of  Fairfax’s  U.S.  based  subsidiaries’  gross  and  net  loss  and  ALAE

reserves  from  pollution  exposures  at  year-end  2002,  2001,  and  2000  and  the  movement  in

gross and net reserves for those years:

2002

2001

2000

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

IIC

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

at January 1

335.0

103.5

320.9

114.5

453.6

164.8

Pollution losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

34.3

(27.4)

35.1

(8.7)

(80.9)

(32.5)

Pollution losses and ALAE paid during

the year

66.2

(5.0)

21.0

2.2

51.8

17.9

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

at December 31

C&F

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

303.1

81.1

335.0

103.5

320.9

114.5

at January 1

151.7

124.8

170.6

145.4

192.0

167.2

Pollution losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

(22.0)

(3.0)

1.0

2.0

(3.0)

(3.0)

Pollution losses and ALAE paid during

the year

15.7

15.9

19.9

22.7

18.4

18.8

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

at December 31

OdysseyRe(1)

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

114.1

105.8

151.7

124.8

170.6

145.4

at January 1

55.5

46.9

53.4

44.3

44.6

35.4

Pollution losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

8.0

5.8

6.7

3.3

10.5

10.4

Pollution losses and ALAE paid during

the year

17.8

6.5

4.6

0.7

1.7

1.5

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

at December 31

TIG

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

45.7

46.2

55.5

46.9

53.4

44.3

at January 1

115.7

30.9

120.0

29.6

126.1

41.8

94

2002

2001

2000

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Pollution losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

13.3

10.2

2.7

3.2

7.0

0.5

Pollution losses and ALAE paid during

the year

35.9

10.4

7.0

1.8

13.2

12.7

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE

at December 31

93.2

30.8

115.7

30.9

120.0

29.6

(1) Net  reserves  reported  for  OdysseyRe  exclude  cessions  under  a  stop  loss  agreement  with  ORC  Re

Limited, a wholly-subsidiary of Fairfax. In its financial disclosures OdysseyRe reports net reserves

inclusive of cessions under this reinsurance protection.

Many insureds have presented claims against various Fairfax subsidiaries for defense costs and

for  indemnification  in  connection  with  environmental  pollution  matters.  As  with  asbestos

reserves, exposure for pollution cannot be estimated with traditional loss reserving techniques

that rely on historical accident year loss development factors. Because each insured presents

different  liability  and  coverage  issues  the  methodology  used  by  the  groups  to  establish

pollution  reserves  is  similar  to  that  used  for  asbestos  liabilities.  IIC  and  C&F  evaluate  the

exposure presented by each insured and the anticipated cost of resolution utilizing ground-up,

exposure-based  analysis  that  constitutes  industry  ‘‘best  practice’’  approach  for  pollution

reserving. As with asbestos these methods were vetted with outside actuarial consultants and

deemed to be reasonable and comprehensive.

In  the  course  of  performing  these  individual  insured  assessments  the  following  factors  are

considered:  the  insured’s  probable  liability  and  available  coverage,  relevant  judicial

interpretations,  the  nature  of  the  alleged  pollution  activities  of  the  insured  at  each  site,  the

number of sites, the total number of PRPs at each site, the nature of environmental harm and

the  corresponding  remedy  at  each  site,  the  ownership  and  general  use  of  each  site,  the

involvement  of  other  insurers  and  the  potential  for  other  available  coverage,  and  the

applicable  law  in  each  jurisdiction.  A  provision  for  IBNR  is  developed,  again  using

methodology  similar  to  that  for  asbestos  liabilities,  and  an  estimate  of  ceded  reinsurance

recoveries  is  calculated.  At  TIG,  a  bulk  reserving  approach  is  employed  based  on  industry

benchmarks of ultimate liability to establish reserves for both reported and unasserted claims

as well as for allocated claim adjustment costs.

The following table presents the pollution survival ratios based on net loss and ALAE reserves

for IIC, C&F and OdysseyRe:

Net Loss and ALAE Reserves
3-year average net paid losses and ALAE
3-year Survival Ratios

IIC

81.1
5.0
16.1

C&F

OdysseyRe

105.8
19.1
5.5

46.2
2.9
15.9

To the extent that the reinsurance protection described in the first paragraph on page 91 is not

used by IIC or C&F for asbestos claims, it would be available for pollution claims and would

significantly improve the above survival ratios.

95

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Other Mass Tort/Health Hazards Discussion

In addition to asbestos and pollution, Fairfax faces exposure to other types of mass tort claims.

These  ‘‘health  hazards’’  include  breast  implants,  pharmaceutical  products,  lead  paint,  noise-

induced  hearing  loss,  tobacco,  mold  and  chemical  products.  Management  believes  that  as  a

result of its historical underwriting profile and its focus of excess liability coverage on Fortune

500  type  entities,  IIC  has  the  bulk  of  these  potential  exposures  within  Fairfax.  Presently,

management believes that tobacco, lead paint and mold are the most significant health hazard

exposures facing Fairfax.

As  of  this  date,  tobacco  companies  have  not  aggressively  pursued  insurance  coverage  for

tobacco bodily injury claims. One notable exception is a Delaware state court coverage action,

Liggett Group, Inc. v. Admiral Ins. Co., in which the Supreme Court of Delaware held in favor of

the insurers on four issues: 1) tobacco health hazard exclusions, 2) products hazard exclusions,

3) advertising liability, and 4) named insured provision.

There are no active claims submitted by manufacturers to IIC. One tobacco manufacturer and

its  parent  company  have  submitted  notices  of  tobacco-related  claims  to  TIG.  One  smokeless

tobacco manufacturer has submitted notices of tobacco-related claims to C&F and has brought

a  declaratory  judgment  action.  In  addition,  a  small  number  of  notices  from  distributors/

retailers  have  also  been  submitted  to  TIG  and  C&F.  In  most  instances  these  distributors/

retailers  have  reported  that  they  have  secured  indemnification  agreements  from  tobacco

manufacturers.

RiverStone is monitoring developments in tobacco litigation throughout the country. To date,

the tobacco manufacturers have reached settlements in the Broin flight attendants’ class action,

and  lawsuits  brought by  the  states’  attorneys  general,  led  by  Mississippi,  Florida,  Texas  and

Minnesota.  With  one  exception,  all  adverse  verdicts  against  manufacturers  from  individual

suits and class actions, including multi-billion dollar punitive damages awards, are on appeal.

The outcome of the pending appeals may impact the manufacturers’ liability as well as their

pursuit of insurance coverage.

RiverStone is also monitoring developments in lead paint litigation throughout the country.

To  date,  the  paint  manufacturers  have  not  entered  into  any  settlements  in  the  underlying

matters  and  have  not  been  the  subject  of  significant  adverse  verdicts.  Accordingly,  all

payments for manufacturers to date have been for defense, and no payments have been made

for  manufacturers  under  any  excess  insurance  issued  by  Fairfax.  The  main  roadblock  to

plaintiffs’ success in pursuing paint manufacturers has been their inability to satisfy the burden

of  product  identification.  Should  the  plaintiffs  succeed  on  a  market  share  theory  or  in

scientifically demonstrating which company manufactured the paint product, the lead paint

industry  will  likely  seek  coverage  for  their  losses.  To  date,  a  few  Fairfax  subsidiaries  have

received notices of governmental, individual and class actions filed against the paint industry.

In  addition,  two  paint  manufacturers  brought  coverage  actions  against  their  respective

insurers,  including  certain  Fairfax  subsidiaries  which allegedly  issued  excess  policies.  In

Glidden,  the  Court  held  that  the  current  Glidden  entity  is  not  entitled  to  coverage  under

policies issued to a predecessor, SCM Corporation. The corporate succession ruling has been

appealed by Glidden.

96

Fairfax  subsidiaries  are  increasingly  being  asked  to  defend  and  indemnify  mold  property

damage  and  bodily  injury  claims.  The  majority  of  such  claims  are  property  damage  claims

arising  in  the  construction  defect  context.  Despite  the  media  attention  regarding  health

hazards allegedly associated with mold exposure, to date, mold bodily injury claims have not

presented  significant  exposure  to  Fairfax  companies.  This  is  largely  because  of  the  failure  of

plaintiffs to prove a causal relationship between bodily injury and exposure to mold. Though

plaintiffs’ lawyers and the media have likened mold to asbestos, there is a consensus among

insurance industry analysts that mold will not become ‘‘the next asbestos’’ for the commercial

insurance  industry.  Current  mold  exclusions  should  act  to  stem  the  tide  of  such  claims,

particularly since the alleged injuries do not have long latency periods. Thirty-two states have

approved  mold  exclusions.  Many  states  that  have  not  approved  mold  exclusions  have

approved modest sublimits of liability for mold claims.

Following is an analysis of IIC’s and C&F’s gross and net reserves from health hazard exposures

at year-end 2002, 2001, and 2000 and the movement in gross and net reserves for those years:

2002

2001

2000

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

IIC

Provision for health hazards claims and

ALAE at January 1

177.5

46.6

188.8

31.5

226.7

21.0

Health hazards losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

7.8

0.6

31.7

22.2

26.1

29.4

Health hazards losses and ALAE paid during

the year

34.4

(1.5)

43.0

7.2

63.9

18.9

Provision for health hazards claims and

ALAE at December 31

150.8

48.7

177.5

46.6

188.8

31.5

C&F

Provision for health hazards claims and

ALAE at January 1

37.0

27.3

38.1

31.1

62.1

55.9

Health hazards losses and ALAE incurred

during the year

(4.2)

3.3

2.1

3.2

0.5

0.2

Health hazards losses and ALAE paid during

the year

2.3

2.3

3.2

7.0

24.5

25.1

Provision for health hazards claims and

ALAE at December 31

30.5

28.3

37.0

27.3

38.1

31.1

Similar to asbestos and pollution, traditional actuarial techniques cannot be used to estimate

ultimate  liability  for  these  exposures.  Some  claim  types,  such  as  breast  implants  and

pharmaceutical products, were first identified ten or more years ago. For these exposures, the

reserve  estimation  methodology  at  IIC  is  similar  to  that  for  asbestos  and  pollution  –  i.e.  an

exposure-based  approach  based  on  all  known,  pertinent  facts  underlying  the  claim.  This

methodology  cannot  at  the  present  time  be  applied  to  other  claim  types  such  as  tobacco  or

lead paint as there are a number of significant legal issues yet to be resolved, both with respect

to  the  insured’s  liability  and  the  application  of  insurance  coverage.  For  these  claim  types,  a

97

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

bulk  IBNR  reserve  is  developed  based  on  benchmarking  methods  utilizing  the  ultimate  cost

estimates of more mature health hazard claims. The bulk reserve also considers the possibility

of entirely new classes of health hazard claims emerging in the future. C&F sets reserves at a

selected survival ratio (currently using 10 years) and selects a gross to net ratio based on the

gross to net ratio of historical payments.

Summary

Management  believes  that  the  APH  reserves  reported  at  December  31,  2002  are  reasonable

estimates of the ultimate remaining liability for these claims based on facts currently known,

the  present  state  of  the  law  and  coverage  litigation,  current  assumptions  and  the  reserving

methodologies employed. These APH reserves are continually monitored by management and

reviewed extensively by independent consulting actuaries. New reserving methodologies and

developments will continue to be evaluated as they arise in order to supplement the ongoing

analysis  and  reviews  of  the  APH  exposures.  However,  to  the  extent  that  future  social,

economic, legal or legislative developments alter the original intent of the policies and scope of

coverage,  particularly  as  they  relate  to  asbestos  and  pollution  claims,  additional  increases  in

loss  reserves  may  emerge  in  future  periods.  It  is  important  to  note  that  the  reinsurance

protection  discussed  under  Additional  Reinsurance  Protection  on  pages  101  and  102  would

apply to any adverse development of APH reserves.

Reinsurance Recoverables

Fairfax’s subsidiaries purchase certain reinsurance so as to reduce their liability on the insurance and reinsurance risks

which  they  write.  Fairfax  strives  to  minimize  the  credit  risk  of  purchasing  reinsurance  through  adherence  to  its

internal reinsurance guidelines. To be an ongoing reinsurer of Fairfax, a company must have high A.M. Best and/or

Standard & Poor’s ratings and maintain capital and surplus exceeding US$500. Most of the reinsurance balances for

reinsurers  rated  B++  and  lower  or  which  are  not  rated  were  inherited  by  Fairfax  on  acquisition  of  a  subsidiary,

including  IIC.  The  risk  of  uncollectible  reinsurance  has  been  mitigated  by  the  additional  reinsurance  protection

outlined under Additional Reinsurance Protection on pages 101 and 102.

The following table shows Fairfax’s top 50 reinsurance groups (based on gross reinsurance recoverable net of specific

provisions  for  uncollectible  reinsurance)  at  December  31,  2002.  These  50  reinsurance  groups  represent  90.9%  of

Fairfax’s $11,992.9 in total reinsurance recoverable (which total is net of bad debt reserves aggregating $971.2).

Group

Principal Reinsurers

Swiss Re

Munich Re

European Reinsurance Co. of Zurich

American Reinsurance

Great West Life

London Life & Casualty Re

Xerox

Lloyd’s

Ridge Reinsurance Ltd.

Lloyd’s of London Underwriters

General Electric

Employers Reinsurance Company

Aegon

Berkshire

ARC Re & Pyramid Insurance Companies

Hathaway

General Reinsurance Corp.

A.M. Best
Rating
(or S&P
equivalent)(1)

Gross
Reinsurance
Recoverable(2)

Net
Reinsurance
Recoverable(3)

A++

A+

A

NR

A–

A+
AA–(4)

A++

2,325.4

1,127.7

881.1

753.1

605.8

433.4

412.9

377.1

1,456.9

466.4

25.6

–

578.1

426.4

4.4

348.7

98

A.M. Best
Rating
(or S&P
equivalent)(1)

Gross
Reinsurance
Recoverable(2)

Net
Reinsurance
Recoverable(3)

NR

A

A

A–

A++

A++

A–

A+

A

A

A

A+
A–(5)
A+

A

A+

NR

A–

A

A+

A+

A–

C

A-

A++

A

A+

A

A+

A++

A+

NR

A+

A++

A+

NR

NR

B++

A

285.8

275.5

242.2

223.0

213.8

191.6

166.1

164.8

162.1

158.3

144.5

127.9

124.2

122.3

118.8

115.2

79.4

67.8

62.4

60.1

58.4

57.1

55.4

53.0

52.6

51.7

47.9

45.2

41.8

41.1

39.8

38.8

36.2

35.9

32.6

30.5

30.5

26.9

26.7

86.6

267.2

159.5

232.7

198.8

180.4

136.5

101.7

90.5

148.9

124.2

117.6

124.2

119.1

97.6

104.8

70.9

16.4

66.6

39.3

57.2

50.9

41.0

43.4

27.0

47.8

48.3

45.0

41.1

40.7

40.9

38.8

31.7

33.8

27.1

17.2

–

23.5

26.6

Group

Principal Reinsurers

Gerling Global

Gerling Global International Re

Ace

St. Paul

Royal & Sun

Alliance

AIG

Chubb

SCOR

HDI

AXA

CNA

Zurich Re

Everest

Aon

Hartford

Insurance Co. of North America

Mountain Ridge Insurance Co. of N.A

Security Ins. Co. of Hartford

Transatlantic Re

Federal Insurance Co.

SCOR

Hannover Ruckversicherungs

AXA Corporate Solutions

Continental Casualty

Centre Solutions (Bermuda)

Everest Reinsurance Co.
Aon Indemnity(5)
New England Re

Converium

Converium Reins. North America Inc.

XL

Tawa

XL Reinsurance America Inc.

CX Reinsurance

Arch Capital

Arch Reinsurance Ltd.

American Financial Great American Assurance Co.

PartnerRe

Allstate

Partner Reinsurance Co. of US

Allstate

White Mountains

Folksamerica Reinsurance Co.

Trenwick

PMA

Manulife

Aioi

Trenwick America Reinsurance Co.

PMA Capital Insurance Co.

Manufacturers P&C Barbados

Aioi Insurance Co. Ltd.

Nationwide

Nationwide Mutual Insurance

PXRE

Sompo

Travelers

FM Global

PXRE Reinsurance Co.

Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.

Travelers Indemnity Co.

Factory Mutual Insurance Co.

Duke’s Place

Seaton Insurance Co.

Liberty Mutual

Employers Insurance of Wausau

Allianz

Toa Re

YMCA

Bay Care Hospital

Cornhill Insurance Co.

Toa Reinsurance Co. America

Y Mutual Insurance

System

BCHS Insurance Co.

Markel Corp.

Terra Nova Insurance Co.

Unum/Provident

Unum Life Insurance of America

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FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Group

HCC

KKR

GMAC

Other reinsurers

Principal Reinsurers

Houston Casualty Co.

Alea North America Reinsurance

Motors Insurance Corp.

Total reinsurance recoverable

Provisions for uncollectible reinsurance

Net reinsurance recoverable

A.M. Best
Rating
(or S&P
equivalent)(1)

Gross
Reinsurance
Recoverable(2)

Net
Reinsurance
Recoverable(3)

A+

A–

A+

26.6

26.6

24.4

2,062.1

12,964.1

971.2

11,992.9

21.3

22.1

22.2

1,813.2

8,350.8

971.2

7,379.6

(1) Of principal reinsurer (or, if principal reinsurer is not rated, of group)

(2) Before specific provisions for uncollectible reinsurance

(3) Net of outstanding balances for which security is held, but before specific provisions for uncollectible reinsurance

(4) Rating is S&P credit rating of group

(5)

Indemnitor; rating is S&P credit rating of group

The  following  table  shows  the  classification  of  the  $12,964.1  total  reinsurance  recoverable  shown  above  by  credit

rating  of  the  responsible  reinsurers.  Pools  and  associations,  shown  separately,  are  generally  government  or  similar

insurance funds carrying very little credit risk.

A.M. Best
Gross
Rating
(or S&P
Reinsurance
equivalent) Recoverable

Outstanding
Balances
for which

Specific
Provisions
for

Net
Unsecured
Security Uncollectible Reinsurance
Reinsurance Recoverable

is Held

A++

A+

A

A–

B++

B+

B

Lower than

B

Not rated

Pools &

3,284.1

1,820.7

2,861.7

1,097.3

382.3

231.8

171.0

176.8

2,770.0

985.6

159.5

1,686.5

112.0

200.7

30.1

41.4

4.0

1,388.4

4.0

22.2

9.3

5.4

3.6

5.4

9.5

78.0

592.9

2,294.5

1,639.0

1,165.9

979.9

178.0

196.3

120.1

94.8

788.7

associations

168.4

5.1

–

163.3

12,964.1

4,613.3

730.3

7,620.5

Provisions for uncollectible

reinsurance

– specific

– general

Net reinsurance recoverable

730.3

240.9

11,992.9

100

To support gross reinsurance recoverable balances, Fairfax has the benefit of letters of credit,

trust funds or offsetting balances payable totalling $4,613.3, as follows:

for  reinsurers  rated  A–  or  better,  Fairfax  has  security  of  $2,943.6  against  outstanding

reinsurance recoverable of $9,063.8;

for  reinsurers  rated  B++  or  lower,  Fairfax  has  security  of  $276.2  against  outstanding

reinsurance recoverable of $961.9;

for  unrated  reinsurers,  Fairfax  has  security  of  $1,388.4  against  outstanding  reinsurance

recoverable of $2,770.0; and

for  pools  &  associations,  Fairfax  has  security  of  $5.1  against  outstanding  reinsurance

recoverable of $168.4.

Lloyd’s  is  also  required  to  maintain  funds  in  Canada  and  the  United  States  which  are

monitored by the applicable regulatory authorities.

As  shown  above,  excluding  pools  &  associations,  Fairfax  has  gross  outstanding  reinsurance

balances for reinsurers which are rated B++ or lower or which are unrated of $3,731.9 for which

it  holds  security  of  $1,664.6  and  has  an  aggregate  provision  for  uncollectible  reinsurance  of

$930.3 (45.0% of the net exposure prior to such provision), leaving a net exposure of $1,137.0.

Based  on  the  above  analysis  and  on  the  work  done  by  RiverStone  as  described  in  the  next

paragraph, Fairfax believes that its provision for uncollectible reinsurance provides for all likely

losses arising from uncollectible reinsurance at December 31, 2002. In addition, the company

has purchased credit default swaps to reduce the exposure to certain reinsurers.

RiverStone,  with  its  dedicated,  specialized  personnel  in  this  area,  is  responsible  for  the

following with respect to recoverables from reinsurers: evaluating the creditworthiness of all

reinsurers  and  recommending  to  the  group  management’s  reinsurance  committee  those

reinsurers which should be included on the list of approved reinsurers; monitoring reinsurance

recoverable  by  reinsurer  and  by  company,  in  aggregate,  on  a  quarterly  basis  and

recommending  the  appropriate  provision  for  uncollectible  reinsurance;  and  pursuing

collections from, and global commutations with, reinsurers which are impaired or considered

to be financially challenged.

For the last three years, Fairfax has had reinsurance bad debts of $12.4 for 2002, $63.8 for 2001

and $43.1 for 2000 prior to cessions of 1998 and prior reinsurance bad debts to the Swiss Re

Cover of $2.4, $11.8, and $27.1 respectively.

The  reinsurance  protection  discussed  under  Additional  Reinsurance  Protection  beginning

below on this page would apply to adverse development of unrecoverable reinsurance.

Additional Reinsurance Protection

Shown below are the continuing indemnifications originally received on Fairfax’s acquisition

of  its  various  insurance,  reinsurance  and  runoff  subsidiaries  and  additional  reinsurance

protection  purchased  by  Fairfax  in  1999  and  by  Crum  &  Forster  in  2001.  These

indemnifications provide protection from adverse development in the respective companies’

claims  reserves  and  unrecoverable  reinsurance  as  at  the  end  of  the  respective  original  years

101

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

shown. The protected net reserves represent the respective companies’ carried reserves, net of

reinsurance recoverable, at December 31, 2002, which are subject to the related protection.

During 1999, the indemnity given by Skandia in respect of Odyssey Reinsurance (New York)

was assumed by a Fairfax reinsurance subsidiary in consideration of a cash payment made to

that  reinsurer,  which  Fairfax  believes  represented  fair  value  to  assume  that  indemnity.  As  a

result,  Fairfax  was  no  longer  exposed  to  credit  risk  regarding  Skandia  with  respect  to  this

indemnity.  As  the  indemnity  is  now  assumed  by  a  Fairfax  reinsurance  subsidiary,  it  is  not

included in the table below.

Year

1992

1998

Company

Amount
(US$)

Amount
(Cdn$)

Unused
Protections at
December 31,
2002
(Cdn$)

Protected Net
Reserves at
December 31,
2002
(Cdn$)

US$ 578(1)
US$1,000(2)

913(1)

1,580

160

423

546

3,664

International Insurance

Crum & Forster, TIG

(except International

Insurance), all Canadian

insurance subsidiaries and

runoff subsidiaries owned

on December 31, 1998

(Swiss Re Cover)

2001

Crum & Forster

US$ 500(2)

790

3,283

442

1,025

938

(1) After 15% coinsurance

(2) Additional premium is payable as additional losses are ceded to this cover.

Insurance Environment

The  property  and  casualty  insurance  market  changed  significantly  in  2001  following  the

September  11th  terrorist  attacks.  Many  insurers  and  reinsurers  suffered  substantial  losses  on

the  World  Trade  Center  catastrophe;  in  addition,  in  2001  and  2002,  falling  equity  values

negatively impacted the capital and surplus of many insurers and reinsurers, particularly in the

European  markets.  Since  September  11,  2001,  insurance  and  reinsurance  prices  have  been

increasing  significantly  as  capacity  and  terms  and  conditions  tightened  dramatically.

Combined  ratios  in  Canada,  for  U.S.  commercial  lines  and  for  U.S.  reinsurance  in  2002  are

expected  to  be  approximately  106%,  103%  and  118%  respectively.  The  World  Trade  Center

losses, continuing adverse development from very inadequate pricing in 2000 and prior years

and  significant  strengthening  of  APH  reserves  negatively  impacted  on  the  industry’s  2002

combined  ratios.  Significant  restructuring  and  consolidation  continues  to  take  place  in  the

industry, and the industry continues to be highly competitive.

Acquisitions

Effective  May  30,  2002,  the  company  purchased  Old  Lyme  Insurance  Company  of  Rhode

Island,  Inc.  and  Old  Lyme  Insurance  Company  Ltd.  for  $66.7  (US$43.5).  At  the  date  of

102

acquisition,  those  companies  had  $165.9  (US$108.2)  in  total  assets, $99.2  (US$64.7)  in  total

liabilities,  and  consequently  shareholders’  equity  of  $66.7  (US$43.5),  equal  to  the  purchase

price. The balance sheet of Old Lyme upon acquisition was as follows:

Investments, including cash

Accounts receivable, including reinsurance

Other assets

Total assets

Provision for claims

Other liabilities

Shareholders’ equity

(US$)

76.2

19.4

12.6

108.2

45.0

19.7

43.5

Effective  September  10,  2002,  OdysseyRe  purchased  56.0%  of  Singapore-based  First  Capital

Insurance Limited for $28.0 (US$17.8) cash. At the date of acquisition, the company had $76.7

(US$48.8)  in  total  assets,  $28.0  (US$17.8)  in  total  liabilities,  and  consequently  shareholders’

equity of $48.7 (US$31.0), 56.0% of which is $27.3 (US$17.4), slightly below the purchase price

of $28.0 (US$17.8). The balance sheet of First Capital upon acquisition was as follows:

Investments, including cash

Accounts receivable, including reinsurance

Total assets

Provision for claims

Other liabilities

Shareholders’ equity

(US$)

45.9

2.9

48.8

16.5

1.3

31.0

On December 16, 2002, the company acquired Xerox’s 72.5% economic interest in TRG, the

holding company of IIC, in exchange for payments over the next 15 years of US$425 (US$204

at  current  value  discounted  at  9%  per  annum),  payable  approximately  US$5  a  quarter  from

2003 to 2017 and approximately US$128 at the end of 2017. At December 16, 2002, the 72.5%

effective  economic  interest  represented  $2,267.2  (US$1,442.9)  in  total  assets, $1,650.6

(US$1,050.5) in total liabilities, and consequently shareholders’ equity of $616.6 (US$392.4).

The  company  recorded  negative  goodwill  of  $298.5  (US$188.4)  as  extraordinary  income,

representing  the  excess  of  the  fair  value  of  72.5%  of  TRG’s  net  assets  (US$392.4)  over  the

103

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

purchase consideration payable of $320.5 (US$204). The balance sheet of the 72.5% interest on

December 16, 2002 was as follow:

Investments, including cash

Accounts receivable, including reinsurance

Other assets

Total assets

Provision for claims

Other liabilities

Shareholders’ equity

(US$)

572.6

853.4

16.9

1,442.9

1,028.8

21.7

392.4

Interest and Dividend Income

The  majority  of  interest  and  dividend  income  is  earned  by  the  insurance,  reinsurance  and

runoff companies. Upon the acquisitions noted below, the respective amounts shown below

were added to the company’s portfolio investments.

Acquisition Date

March 21, 1990

November 14, 1990

December 31, 1993

November 30, 1994

May 31, 1996

February 27, 1997

December 3, 1997

August 13, 1998

September 4, 1998

April 13, 1999

August 11, 1999

Company Acquired

Federated

Commonwealth

Ranger

Lombard (including CRC (Bermuda))

Odyssey Reinsurance (New York)

CTR

Sphere Drake

Crum & Forster

RiverStone Stockholm

TIG

TRG

Portfolio
Investments

101

130

400

684

1,490

764

1,068

4,955

831

5,597

1,670

104

Interest and dividend income for the past seventeen years is shown in the following table.

Average
Investments at
Carrying Value

Amount

Interest and Dividend Income

Pre-Tax

Yield
(%)

Per Share

Amount

After Tax

Yield
(%)

Per Share

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

64.2

109.8

130.8

135.7

237.9

338.5

366.5

418.2

852.0

1,608.1

2,548.1

4,584.6

8,877.5

14,865.8

16,686.2

15,975.9

16,560.6

4.7

8.0

8.9

11.6

20.7

26.1

24.0

23.3

58.2

89.4

151.4

254.6

443.8

753.0

818.1

680.8

657.7

7.29

7.32

6.82

8.57

8.70

7.70

6.55

5.56

6.83

5.56

5.94

5.55

5.00

5.06

4.90

4.26

3.97

0.96

1.10

1.22

1.51

2.75

4.44

4.17

3.78

7.12

10.00

15.42

23.64

37.37

56.48

62.10

51.41

46.04

2.5

5.5

6.6

8.5

14.0

17.7

17.8

18.0

39.6

73.7

111.5

174.4

337.5

492.0

578.4

462.9

440.7

3.93

5.01

5.06

6.29

5.89

5.24

4.84

4.30

4.65

4.58

4.37

3.80

3.80

3.30

3.50

2.90

2.66

0.52

0.77

0.90

1.11

1.86

3.02

3.09

2.92

4.85

8.25

11.35

16.19

28.42

36.91

43.91

34.96

30.85

Interest  and  dividend  income  decreased  in  2002  due  to  the  decrease  in  the  average  net

portfolio yield from 4.26% in 2001 to 3.97% in 2002, partially offset by a $0.6 billion increase

in  the  average  investment  portfolio,  which  is  explained  after  the  following  table.  The  gross

portfolio yield, before interest on funds withheld of $120.8, was 4.70% for 2002 compared to

the gross portfolio yield, before interest on funds withheld of $146.3, of 5.18% for 2001. As

shown, the pre-tax and after tax income yields decreased in 2002 due to lower interest rates

and the maintenance of significant cash positions. Since 1985, pre-tax interest and dividend

income per share has compounded at 26.3% per year.

105

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Investments since 1985 are shown in the following table, the first five columns of which show

them at their average carrying values for each year, and the final two columns of which show

them at their year-end carrying values.

Cash and
Short Term
Investments

Bonds

Preferred
Stocks

Common
Stocks

Total Investments

Average

Year-End

Per Share

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

10.5

16.6

28.0

29.8

20.6

33.6

60.1

78.0

103.0

226.2

298.0

470.7

822.6

1,116.3

15.4

24.5

26.2

23.6

28.5

99.2

140.2

108.8

90.7

303.9

796.3

1,462.1

2,989.1

6,856.7

1,858.6

11,583.3

2,530.2

12,532.5

2,794.3

11,751.8

3,149.9

11,713.6

0.8

8.0

16.5

25.2

32.2

45.7

75.7

99.8

118.6

132.1

157.0

168.4

226.9

213.3

144.5

102.1

98.5

189.9

2.4

15.1

39.1

52.2

54.4

59.4

62.5

79.9

105.9

189.8

356.8

446.9

546.0

691.2

29.1

64.2

109.8

130.8

135.7

237.9

338.5

366.5

418.2

852.0

1,608.1

2,548.1

4,584.6

32.8

95.6

124.0

137.6

133.9

335.7

341.2

396.2

848.8

1,551.3

1,668.7

3,454.5

5,795.7

8,877.5

12,108.4

6.55

13.65

16.90

18.79

18.30

61.30

62.54

65.44

106.70

173.25

188.14

330.07

520.62

998.03

1,279.4

14,865.8

17,842.1

1,328.90

1,521.4

16,686.2

15,687.2

1,197.42

1,331.3

15,975.9

16,419.2

1,144.12

1,507.2

16,560.6

16,812.6

1,188.95

Total  investments  and  total  investments  per  share  increased  at  year-end  2002  due  to  strong

operating  cash  flows  at  the  Canadian  insurance  companies  and  OdysseyRe  and  significantly

reduced  negative  cash  flow  at  Crum  &  Forster,  partially  offset  by  TIG’s  negative  cash  flow

following discontinuance of its MGA-controlled program business and the payment of claims

by the runoff operations. Since 1985, investments per share have compounded at 35.8% per

year.

Various  investments  are  pledged  by  the  company’s  subsidiaries  in  the  ordinary  course  of

carrying on their business. This pledging is referred to in note 3 to the financial statements and

is explained in more detail in the third paragraph of Provision for Claims on page 69. As noted

there,  this  pledging  does  not  involve  any  cross-collateralization  by  one  group  company  of

another group company’s obligations.

106

The breakdown of the bond portfolio, by the higher of the S&P and Moody’s credit ratings, as

at December 31, 2002 was as follows:

Credit
Rating

AAA

AA

A

BBB

BB

B

Lower than B and unrated

Total

Carrying Market
Value

Value

Unrealized
Gain/(Loss)

7,688.0

7,811.6

123.6

799.0

1,265.4

1,250.4

527.7

26.3

125.1

811.8

1,285.7

1,270.5

536.2

26.8

127.2

12.8

20.3

20.1

8.5

0.5

2.1

11,681.9

11,869.8

187.9

94.2%  of  the  fixed  income  portfolio  is  rated  investment  grade,  with  83.5%  being  rated  A  or

better.

Interest Rate Risk

The company’s fixed income securities portfolio is exposed to interest rate risk. Fluctuations in

interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of these securities. As interest rates

rise, market values of fixed income securities portfolios fall and vice versa.

The table below displays the potential impact of market value fluctuations on the fixed income

securities  portfolio  as  of  December  31,  2002  and  December  31,  2001,  based  on  parallel  200

basis point shifts in interest rates up and down in 100 basis point increments. This analysis was

performed by individual security.

As of December 31, 2002

As of December 31, 2001

Fair
Value of
Fixed

Fair
Value of
Fixed

Change in Interest Rates

Income Hypothetical Hypothetical
% Change
$ Change

Portfolio

Income Hypothetical Hypothetical
% Change
$ Change

Portfolio

200 basis point rise

100 basis point rise

No change

9,816.6

10,680.2

11,869.8

100 basis point decline

13,259.4

200 basis point decline

15,060.9

(2,053.2)

(1,189.6)

–

1,389.6

3,191.1

(17.3%)

10,029.9

(1,394.3)

(10.0%)

10,646.0

(778.2)

–

11,424.2

11.7% 12,689.5

26.9% 14,233.1

–

1,265.3

2,808.9

(12.2%)

(6.8%)

–

11.1%

24.6%

The preceding table indicates an asymmetric market value response to equivalent basis point

shifts,  up  and  down  in  interest  rates.  This  reflects  significant  exposure  to  fixed  income

securities containing a put feature. In total these securities represent approximately 26.7% and

47.8% of the fair market value of the total fixed income portfolio as of December 31, 2002 and

December 31, 2001, respectively. The asymmetric market value response reflects the company’s

ability  to  put  these  bonds  back  to  the  issuer  for  early  maturity  in  a  rising  interest  rate

environment (thereby limiting market value loss) but to hold these bonds to their much longer

full maturity dates in a falling interest rate environment (thereby maximizing the full benefit

of higher market values in that environment).

107

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Disclosure about Limitations of Interest Rate Sensitivity Analysis

Computations  of  the  prospective  effects  of  hypothetical  interest  rate  changes  are  based  on

numerous assumptions, including the maintenance of the existing level and composition of

fixed income security assets, and should not be relied on as indicative of future results.

Certain shortcomings are inherent in the method of analysis presented in the computation of

the fair value of fixed rate instruments. Actual values may differ from the projections presented

should market conditions vary from assumptions used in the calculation of the fair value of

individual securities; such variations include non-parallel shifts in the term structure of interest

rates and a change in individual issuer credit spreads.

Return on the Investment Portfolio

The following table shows the performance of the investment portfolio for the past seventeen

years. The total return includes all interest and dividend income, gains (losses) on the disposal

of securities and the change in the unrealized gains (losses) during the year.

Average
Investments at

Interest
and
Carrying Dividends

Realized

Gains Change in
(Losses) Unrealized

Total
Return

Realized Gains

after
Earned Provisions

(Losses)

Gains on Average % of Average
Investments
(%)

Investments
(%)

Value

64.2

109.8

130.8

135.7

237.9

338.5

366.5

418.2

852.0

1,608.1

2,548.1

4,584.6

8,877.5

14,865.8

16,686.2

15,975.9

16,560.6

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

4.7

8.0

8.9

11.6

20.7

26.1

24.0

23.3

58.2

89.4

151.4

254.6

443.8

753.0

818.1

680.8

657.7

1.0

9.2

7.8

15.5

2.3

(4.5)

3.4

27.8

20.0

71.9

131.3

206.8

440.8

121.6

382.8

162.3

737.7

(0.4)

(8.0)

12.1

(6.3)

5.3

9.2

28.9

20.8

8

8

22

15

(33.0)

(10.0)

(4)

27.8

(11.2)

28.8

(42.4)

45.4

112.6

49.4

16.2

79.9

35.8

206.7

395.3

(4.5)

456.9

(117.2)

767.4

15

4

19

4

13

16

10

9

(1,232.1)

(357.5)

(2)

737.4 1,938.3

212.0 1,055.1

431.0 1,826.4

12

7

11

1.6

8.4

6.0

11.4

1.0

(1.3)

0.9

6.6

2.3

4.5

5.2

4.5

5.0

0.8

2.3

1.0

4.5

% of Interest and
Dividends and
Realized Gains
(%)

17.5

53.5

46.7

57.2

10.0

N/A

12.4

54.4

25.6

44.6

46.4

44.8

49.8

13.9

31.9

19.3

52.9

Cumulative

4,034.3

2,337.7

3.8%*

36.7%

* Simple average of the % of average investments in each of the seventeen years

Investment gains (losses) have been an important component of Fairfax’s net earnings since

1985,  amounting  to  an  aggregate  of  $2,337.7.  The  amount  has  fluctuated  significantly  from

period to period, and the amount of investment gains (losses) for any period has no predictive

value  and  variations  in  amount  from  period  to  period  have  no  practical  analytic  value.  On

average, in any given year since 1985, realized gains have averaged 3.8% of Fairfax’s average

investment  portfolio  and  have  accounted  for  36.7%  of  Fairfax’s  combined  interest  and

108

dividends  and  realized  gains.  At  December  31,  2002,  the  aggregate  provision  for  losses  on

investments was $31.2 (2001 – $37.4). At December 31, 2002 the Fairfax investment portfolio

had  an  unrealized  gain  of  $207.9  compared  to  an  unrealized  loss  at  December  31,  2001  of

$223.1.

The company has a long term value-oriented investment philosophy. It continues to expect

fluctuations in the stock market.

Capital Resources

At  December  31,  2002,  total  capital,  comprising  shareholders’  equity  and  non-controlling

(minority) interests, was $4,059.6, compared to $4,286.0 at December 31, 2001.

The following table shows the level of capital as at December 31 for the past five years:

2002

2001

2000

1999

Non-controlling interests

508.1

1,043.3

645.2

601.6

1998

87.9

Common shareholders’ equity

3,351.5

3,042.7

3,180.3

3,116.0

2,238.9

Preferred stock

200.0

200.0

200.0

200.0

–

4,059.6

4,286.0

4,025.5

3,917.6

2,326.8

Non-controlling interests decreased in 2002 since Xerox’s 72.5% economic interest in TRG was

extinguished after it was acquired by Fairfax on December 16, 2002.

Fairfax’s  consolidated  balance  sheet  as  at  December  31,  2002  continues  to  reflect  significant

financial  strength.  Fairfax’s  common  shareholders’  equity  increased  from  $3,042.7  at

December 31, 2001 to $3,351.5 at December 31, 2002 as a result of the 2002 earnings of $415.7

less  dividends  and  related  dividend  tax  for  2002  of  $18.9  and  the  change  in  the  cumulative

currency translation account of $113.2 at December 31, 2002, relating to the translation of the

company’s  foreign  subsidiaries  (principally  in  the  U.S.)  to  Canadian  dollars,  which  has  not

been tax-effected. The increase in the currency translation account results from the weakening

of  the  U.S.  dollar  against  the  Canadian  dollar  at  December  31,  2002  ($1.5798)  compared  to

December 31, 2001 ($1.5963), payments on closed foreign exchange forward contracts in 2002

($67) and the movement in forward U.S. dollar/Canadian dollar rates on the mark-to-market

value  of  the  remaining  U.S.  dollar/Canadian  dollar  foreign  exchange  forward  contracts

hedging Fairfax’s net investment in its U.S. subsidiaries.

The company has issued and repurchased common shares over the last five years as follows:

Date

1998 – issue of shares

1999 – issue of shares

 – repurchase of shares

2000 – repurchase of shares

2001 – issue of shares

2002 – repurchase of shares

Number of
subordinate
voting shares

Average
issue/repurchase
price per share

Net proceeds/
repurchase cost

475.00

500.00

292.88

183.47

200.00

124.64

455.6

959.7

(206.8)

(59.7)

248.5

(26.2)

1,000,000

2,000,000

(706,103)

(325,309)

1,250,000

210,200

109

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Fairfax’s  indirect  ownership  of  its  own  shares  through  The  Sixty  Two  Investment  Company

Limited results in an effective reduction of shares outstanding by 799,230, and this reduction

has been reflected in the earnings per share and book value per share figures.

A common measure of capital adequacy in the property and casualty industry is the premiums

to  surplus  (or  common  shareholders’  equity)  ratio.  This  is  shown  for  the  insurance  and

reinsurance subsidiaries of Fairfax for the past five years in the following table:

Insurance

Commonwealth

Crum & Forster

Falcon

Federated

Lombard

Markel

Ranger

TIG Specialty Insurance

Reinsurance

OdysseyRe

Canadian insurance industry

U.S. insurance industry

Net Premiums Written to Surplus
(Common Shareholders’ Equity)

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1.1

0.7

2.1

1.4

2.3

1.9

1.1

0.9

1.6

1.4

1.3

1.1

0.5

0.4

1.8

2.5

1.7

0.9

0.7

1.0

1.4

1.1

0.5

0.5

0.3

1.7

2.0

1.4

0.4

0.8

0.7

1.3

0.9

0.3

0.6

0.3

1.6

1.7

1.1

0.8

1.1

0.6

1.2

0.9

0.5

0.7

0.1

1.6

1.7

1.3

1.2

–

0.5

1.2

0.8

In Canada, property and casualty companies are regulated by the Office of the Superintendent

of  Financial  Institutions  on  the  basis  of  their  Section  516  surplus.  At  December  31,  2002,

Fairfax’s Canadian property and casualty insurance subsidiaries had a combined Section 516

surplus of approximately $251 (2001 – $206) in excess of minimum requirements.

In  the  U.S.,  the  National  Association  of  Insurance  Commissioners  (NAIC)  has  developed  a

model law and risk-based capital (RBC) formula designed to help regulators identify property

and casualty insurers that may be inadequately capitalized. Under the NAIC’s requirements, an

insurer  must  maintain  total  capital  and  surplus  above  a  calculated  threshold  or  face  varying

levels of regulatory action. The threshold is based on a formula that attempts to quantify the

risk  of  a  company’s  insurance,  investment  and  other  business  activities.  Fairfax  does  not

anticipate  any  adverse  effects  of  such  requirements.  At  the  end  of  2002,  the  U.S.  insurance,

reinsurance  and  runoff  subsidiaries  had  capital  and  surplus  in  excess  of  the  regulatory

minimum  requirement  of  two  times  the  authorized  control  level  –  except  for  TIG,  each

subsidiary had capital and surplus in excess of 2.9 times the authorized control level. As part of

the TIG reorganization described on pages 61 and 62, Fairfax has guaranteed that the merged

TIG and IIC will have capital and surplus of at least two times the authorized control level at

each year-end.

110

Fairfax  and  its  insurance  and  reinsurance  subsidiaries  are  rated  as  follows  by  the  respective

rating agencies:

Fairfax

Commonwealth

Crum & Forster

Falcon

Federated

Lombard

Markel

Old Lyme

Ranger

TIG Specialty Insurance

OdysseyRe

Liquidity

A.M. Best

bbb–

A–

A–

–

A–

A–

A–

A–

B++

B++

A

Standard
& Poor’s

Fitch DBRS Moody’s

BB

BBB

BBB

A–

BBB

BBB

BBB

–

–

BB

BBB+

BBB+

–

BBB+

BBB+

BBB+

–

BBB

BBB

BBB+

A–

A–

BB+

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Ba3

–

Baa3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Baa1

The  purpose  of  liquidity  management  is  to  ensure  that  there  is  sufficient  cash  to  meet  all

financial commitments and obligations as they fall due.

Fairfax’s  combined  holding  company  earnings  statement  is  set  out  on  page  123,  and  its

composition  is  explained  on  page  117.  As  shown,  the  holding  companies  had  revenue  of

$408.5  in  2002,  consisting  of  dividends  from  their  insurance  and  reinsurance  subsidiaries

($146.0), interest income ($13.9), management fees ($31.5) and realized gains ($217.1). After

interest  expense  ($122.7)  and  operating  and  other  expenses  ($71.3),  the  holding  companies

had  pre-tax  earnings  of  $214.5.  The  operating  expenses  include,  besides  administration

expenses, the cost of certain systems and other costs of insurance subsidiaries reimbursed by

the holding companies. This income statement shows that in 2002, Fairfax very comfortably

met all its interest and operating expenses from internal sources.

For 2003, Fairfax’s access to dividends from its subsidiaries without obtaining prior regulatory

approval has increased to $670 (mostly from its non-North American subsidiaries) from $232

in 2002. Fairfax determines the amount of dividends that any subsidiary will pay during a year

based  on  its  capital  requirements  and  the  current  year’s  operating  performance.  In  general,

Fairfax’s subsidiaries do not pay dividends to the full extent of available dividend capacity.

At  the  end  of  2002,  Fairfax  had  a  large  cash  and  marketable  securities  holding  of  $517.7

available to meet upcoming obligations and unexpected requirements absent any other source

of funds. If not used for these purposes, the cash in the holding company, after the receipt of

contractual management fees, would permit Fairfax to meet its net interest, preferred dividend

and other overhead expenses for three to four years, without access to any dividends from its

insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries.

Also,  as  of  February  28,  2003  Fairfax  had  $740  of  unsecured,  committed  bank  lines,  which

reduce to $518, $275, $129 and $0 on September 30 of the years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006

respectively. The only significant covenant attached to these lines is a covenant to maintain a

111

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

net debt to equity ratio not exceeding 1:1. The company has used $386 of the credit available

under  these  lines  for  the  issuance  of  letters  of  credit,  as  required  by  insurance  regulators  for

non-admitted  reinsurers,  in  support  of  its  subsidiaries’  reinsurance  obligations,  principally

relating  to  ORC  Re’s  intercompany  reinsurance  of  U.S.  subsidiaries  (this  use  is  expected  to

reduce to approximately $275 by September 30, 2003). (These letters of credit constitute $386

of the $468.0 of unsecured letters of credit referred to in note 11 to the financial statements.)

The company determined to defer discussing renewal of these lines until after the release of

this  Annual  Report,  and  intends  after  that  release  to  discuss  the  renegotiation  of  those  lines

with its banks.

In addition, in 2003 the company expects to receive in excess of $175 in management fees,

interest  on  its  holdings  of  cash,  short  term  investments  and  marketable  securities  and  tax

payments  from  OdysseyRe  as  a  result  of  the  reconsolidation  of  OdysseyRe  into  the  U.S.  tax

consolidation group.

Subsequent to December 31, 2002 Fairfax paid a common share dividend of $21, contributed

$30 of additional capital to Lombard to support that company’s expanding business and repaid

its  RHINOS  preferred  securities  of  $207  from  its  cash  holding.  In  addition  to  its  interest,

operating  and  preferred  share  dividend  expense  expected  to  aggregate  approximately  $200,

Fairfax’s  remaining  obligations  in  2003  consist  of  maturing  foreign  exchange  contracts  of

$107, a repayment of $150 (US$100) to TIG in June in connection with arrangements for the

use of cash derived from the OdysseyRe IPO, and $177 of debt maturing in December.

The company believes that the resources described in the four paragraphs preceding the above

paragraph  provide  adequate  liquidity  to  meet  all  of  the  company’s  obligations  in  2003,  as

described above, even if none of those obligations were refinanced or rolled over on maturity.

As usual, cash use will be heavier in the first quarter and first half of the year, with proceeds

from  available  resources  being  weighted  to  the  latter  half  of  the  year.  In  addition,  Fairfax

intends  to  work  on  available  alternatives  during  2003  to  achieve  its  intent  of  again

maintaining cash, short term investments and marketable securities in excess of $500 at the

holding company by the end of 2003.

112

The  company  manages  its  debt  levels  based  on  the  following  financial  measurements  and

ratios (with Lindsey Morden equity accounted):

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

Cash and marketable securities

517.7

833.4

545.4

712.7

305.4

Long term debt

2,221.2

2,205.8

1,851.4

1,959.0

1,444.4

Purchase consideration payable

RHINOS due February 2003

Net debt

324.7

214.9

–

–

–

217.1

204.3

200.0

–

–

2,243.1

1,589.5

1,510.3

1,446.3

1,139.0

Common shareholders’ equity

3,351.5

3,042.7

3,180.3

3,116.0

2,238.9

Preferred shares and trust preferred

securities of subsidiaries

OdysseyRe non-controlling interest

326.0

424.2

343.7

361.8

387.7

378.8

–

–

–

–

Total equity

4,101.7

3,748.2

3,568.0

3,494.8

2,238.9

Net debt/equity

Net debt/total capital

Net debt/earnings

Interest coverage

55%

35%

5.4x

4.6x

42%

30%

N/A

N/A

42%

30%

11.0x

0.9x

41%

29%

11.6x

0.7x

51%

34%

3.1x

6.6x

Given the due date of the RHINOS and the company’s decision in 2003 to repay them, they

have been reclassified as debt since their issuance (they were repaid in February 2003). The net

debt/equity and net debt/total capital ratios at the end of 2002 increased due to external debt

of US$50 issued by OdysseyRe in the second quarter of 2002 and the addition of the $324.7

purchase consideration payable in connection with the December 2002 transaction involving

the acquisition of an additional interest in TRG, described on pages 61 and 62. The long term

debt and net debt at December 31, 2002 include external debt issued by OdysseyRe of $316.0

(US$200.0). Total equity includes OdysseyRe’s 26.2% non-controlling interest which supports

repayment  of  OdysseyRe’s  debt.  Preferred  shares  and  trust  preferred  securities  of  subsidiaries

decreased in 2002 as the result of a repurchase of trust preferred securities in the third quarter

of 2002.

Based on the definitions contained in its banking agreements (which include OdysseyRe’s debt

and  the  trust  preferred  securities  of  subsidiaries  as  debt  and  exclude  OdysseyRe’s  non-

controlling interest as equity), at December 31, 2002 the company’s net debt to equity ratio

was 67% and its equity exceeded its net debt by $1.2 billion.

The 2002 net debt/earnings and interest coverage ratios reflect the company’s return to strong

profitability in that year.

113

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Issues and Risks

The  following  issues  and  risks,  among  others,  should  also  be  considered  in  evaluating  the

outlook of the company.

Claims Reserves

The major risk that all property and casualty insurance and reinsurance companies face is that

the provision for claims is an estimate and may be found to be deficient in the future as a result

of  unanticipated  frequency  or  severity  of  claims  or  for  a  variety  of  other  reasons  including

unpredictable  jury  verdicts,  expansion  of  insurance  coverage  to  include  exposures  not

contemplated at the time of policy issue (e.g. asbestos, pollution, breast implants), and poor

weather. Fairfax’s gross provision for claims was $21,165.1 at December 31, 2002.

Reinsurance Recoverables

Most insurance and reinsurance companies reduce their liability for any individual claim by

reinsuring  amounts  in  excess  of  the  maximum  they  want  to  retain.  This  third  party

reinsurance does not relieve the company of its primary obligation to the insured. Reinsurance

recoverables can become an issue mainly due to solvency credit concerns, given the long time

period over which claims are paid and the resulting recoveries are received from the reinsurers,

or policy disputes. Fairfax had $11,992.9 recoverable from reinsurers as at December 31, 2002.

Catastrophe Exposure

Insurance and reinsurance companies are subject to losses from catastrophes like earthquakes,

windstorms,  hailstorms  or  terrorist  attacks,  which  are  unpredictable  and  can  be  very

significant.

Prices

Prices  in  the  insurance  and  reinsurance  industry  are  cyclical  and  can  fluctuate  quite

dramatically.  With  underreserving,  competitors  can  price  below  underlying  costs  for  many

years and still survive.

Foreign Exchange

The company has assets, liabilities, revenue and costs that are subject to currency fluctuations,

particularly  in  the  U.S.  dollar  but  also  other  foreign  currencies.  These  currency  fluctuations

have been and can be very significant. As foreign exchange contracts hedging the company’s

net  investment  in  U.S.  subsidiaries  are  closed  out  at  maturity,  the  company’s  shareholders’

equity  is  increasingly  subject  to  variation,  through  its  currency  translation  account,

particularly as the Canadian/US dollar exchange rate fluctuates.

Cost of Revenue

Unlike most businesses, the insurance and reinsurance business can have enormous costs that

can  significantly  exceed  the  premiums  received  on  the  underlying  policies.  Similar  to  short

114

selling in the stock market (selling shares not owned), there is no limit to the losses that can

arise from most insurance policies, even though most contracts have policy limits.

Regulation

Insurance  and  reinsurance  companies  are  regulated  businesses  which  means  that  except  as

permitted  by  applicable  regulation,  Fairfax  does  not  have  access  to  its  insurance  and

reinsurance subsidiaries’ net income and shareholders’ capital without the requisite approval

of applicable insurance regulatory authorities.

Taxation

Realization of the future income tax asset is dependent upon the generation of taxable income

in  those  jurisdictions  where  the  relevant  tax  losses  and  other  timing  differences  exist.  The

major component of the company’s future income tax asset of $1,544 at December 31, 2002 is

$1,102  relating  to  the  company’s  U.S.  consolidated  tax  group.  Failure  to  achieve  projected

levels of profitability for Crum & Forster and OdysseyRe in 2003 could lead to a writedown in

this future tax asset if the expected recovery period becomes longer than three to four years.

Common Stock Holdings

The  company  has  common  stocks  in  its  portfolio,  the  market  value  of  which  is  exposed  to

fluctuations in the stock market.

Goodwill

Most  of  the  goodwill  on  the  balance  sheet  comes  from  Lindsey  Morden.  Continued

profitability is essential for there to be no deterioration in the carrying value of the goodwill.

Ratings

The  company  has  claims  paying  and  debt  ratings  by  the  major  rating  agencies  in  North

America. As financial stability is very important to its customers, the company is vulnerable to

downgrades by the rating agencies.

Holding Company

Being a small holding company, Fairfax is very dependent on strong operating management,

which makes it vulnerable to management turnover.

115

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Quarterly Data (unaudited)

Years ended December 31

First
Quarter

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

Fourth
Quarter

Full
Year

2002

Revenue ***********************
Net earnings *******************
Net earnings per share **********

1,742.2

1,890.1

2,244.6

2,085.4

7,962.3

11.3

0.46

47.0

2.95

281.4

19.31

76.0

6.06

415.7

28.78

2001

Revenue ***********************
Net earnings (loss) **************
Net earnings (loss) per share***** $

1,528.3

1,531.7

1,336.7

1,729.0

6,125.7

30.9

2.11

46.0

3.27

$

(458.3)

$ (35.23)

$

35.4

1.81

(346.0)

$ (28.04)

2000

Revenue ***********************
Net earnings (loss) **************
Net earnings (loss) per share***** $

1,485.6*

1,537.8*

1,345.4*

1,819.7

6,188.5

35.9

2.58

83.6

5.95

$

(22.1)

$ (1.93)

$

40.0

2.81

137.4

$

9.41

* Reclassified to conform with year-end presentation

Stock Prices

Below  are  the  Toronto  Stock  Exchange  high,  low  and  closing  prices  of  subordinate  voting

shares of Fairfax for each quarter of 2002, 2001 and 2000.

First
Quarter

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

Fourth
Quarter

2002

High ***************************************
Low ****************************************
Close ***************************************

2001

High ***************************************
Low ****************************************
Close ***************************************

2000

High ***************************************
Low ****************************************
Close ***************************************

195.00

156.00

164.75

289.00

185.00

199.50

246.00

146.75

178.00

190.50

145.05

152.00

234.00

171.50

227.90

194.00

150.00

162.00

162.00

104.99

118.50

242.50

174.00

202.31

201.00

161.00

188.25

164.00

107.00

121.11

227.00

160.00

164.00

242.20

176.00

228.50

The  subordinate  voting  shares  of  Fairfax  were  listed  on  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  on

December 18, 2002, where the high, low and close prices up to the end of 2002 were US$90.20,

US$77.00 and US$77.01, respectively.

116

Supplementary Financial Information
The  following  unaudited  financial  information  is  prepared  as  supplementary  information  to

the company’s consolidated financial statements as at and for the years ended December 31,

2002 and 2001. The purpose of each supplementary statement and its basis of preparation are

discussed below. Note (2) on page 51 is applicable also to these supplementary statements.

The  combined  balance  sheets  and  statements  of  earnings  for  Fairfax’s  insurance  and

reinsurance companies are intended to provide more detailed information on the underlying

core  operations.  The  individual  balance  sheets  and  statements  of  earnings  of  each  of  the

underlying  insurance  and  reinsurance  companies  have  been  added  together  without

adjustment  for  items  such  as  intersegment  transactions  and  purchase  price  adjustments.  For

2002,  TIG  Insurance  has  been  excluded  from  the  combined  balance  sheet  following  the

decision to place the company in runoff on December 16, 2002.

The consolidated financial statements of Fairfax with equity accounting of Lindsey Morden are

intended  to  present  Fairfax’s  financial  position  in  a  manner  which  recognizes,  as  is

appropriate,  that  Lindsey  Morden  is  not  part  of  Fairfax’s  primary  operating  segment  of

insurance  and  reinsurance.  This  presentation  is  also  consistent  with  the  company’s  bank

agreements where Lindsey Morden debt is excluded from the net debt to equity ratios since

Lindsey Morden is a separate public company whose debt has not been guaranteed by Fairfax

(although Fairfax has provided Lindsey Morden with a letter of financial support for 2003 as

Lindsey Morden restructures and turns around its U.S. operations).

The  unconsolidated  balance  sheets  of  Fairfax  are  intended  to  provide  a  summary  of  the

holding  company’s  investments  in  its  subsidiaries  by  operating  segment  and  its  other  assets

and  liabilities  including  long  term  debt.  The  investments  in  subsidiaries  are  carried  on  the

equity  basis  whereby  the  investment  reflects  the  cost  of  acquisition  and  post-acquisition

earnings (including the effect of purchase price adjustments) less dividends received.

The unconsolidated statements of earnings of Fairfax provide supplementary information on

the  holding  company’s  sources  of  revenue  and  interest  and  overhead  requirements,  both  of

which are discussed in more detail under Liquidity beginning on page 111 of the MD&A. These

combined  holding  company  statements  of  earnings  include  the  unconsolidated  earnings

statements  of  Fairfax  Financial  Holdings  Limited,  the  Canadian  holding  company,  and  the

U.S.  holding  companies  which  have  issued  long  term  debt  or  trust  preferred  securities  and

which  carry  out  certain  of  Fairfax’s  parent  company  corporate  functions.  These  statements

exclude intercompany arrangements other than dividends from subsidiaries, and exclude the

combined  holding  company’s  premium  payments  and  recoveries  under  the  Swiss  Re  Cover.

None  of  the  holding  companies  pays  tax  currently,  and  accordingly  these  statements  are

presented on a pre-tax basis.

117

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Fairfax Insurance and Reinsurance Companies

Combined Balance Sheets
as at December 31, 2002 and 2001

(unaudited – Cdn$ millions)

Assets

Accounts receivable and other ***********************************
Recoverable from reinsurers *************************************

2,257.5

2,221.6

6,589.9

11,949.6

2002(1)

2001

Portfolio investments (at carrying value)
Cash and short term investments ********************************
Bonds**********************************************************
Preferred stocks *************************************************
Common stocks ************************************************
Investments in Hub, Zenith National and Advent *****************
Real estate******************************************************

Deferred premium acquisition costs ******************************
Future income taxes ********************************************
Capital assets ***************************************************
Goodwill *******************************************************
Other assets ****************************************************

8,847.4

14,171.2

1,810.4

7,226.0

1,707.7

8,904.5

245.0

819.0

373.7

12.8

126.9

556.9

471.3

16.2

10,486.9

11,783.5

432.5

514.9

78.3

34.1

13.9

492.1

1,344.4

98.2

33.7

23.2

20,408.0

27,946.3

Liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities **************************
Funds withheld payable to reinsurers ****************************

1,236.2

937.2

795.3

1,253.0

Provision for claims*********************************************
Unearned premiums ********************************************
Long term debt *************************************************

11,578.4

19,000.4

2,688.8

2,589.0

316.0

262.0

2,031.5

2,190.2

Shareholders’ Equity

Capital stock ***************************************************
Contributed surplus*********************************************
Retained earnings***********************************************

14,583.2

21,851.4

2,874.3

2,990.7

58.6

860.4

682.7

231.3

3,793.3

3,904.7

20,408.0

27,946.3

(1) Excluding TIG

118

Fairfax Insurance and Reinsurance Companies

Combined Statements of Earnings
for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001

(unaudited – Cdn$ millions)

2002

2001

Revenue

Gross premiums written ******************************************* 7,162.0

6,802.0

Net premiums written ********************************************* 5,665.8

5,063.0

Net premiums earned ********************************************* 4,984.7

4,649.9

Expenses

Losses on claims ************************************************** 3,498.5
Operating expenses ***********************************************
630.2
Commissions, net *************************************************

861.7

3,880.1

750.6

991.3

Underwriting loss ************************************************

(5.7)

(972.1)

4,990.4

5,622.0

Investment and other income (expense)

Interest and dividends*********************************************
Realized gains on investments *************************************

Kingsmead losses**************************************************
Other costs and restructuring charges ******************************
Other ************************************************************

Earnings (loss) before income taxes *****************************
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes ****************************

460.0

327.1

787.1

491.7

53.7

545.4

–

(116.7)

(44.6)

(10.9)

731.6

725.9

96.8

(49.1)

(11.6)

368.0

(604.1)

(255.0)

Earnings (loss) from operations *********************************

629.1

(349.1)

Loss ratio *********************************************************
Expense ratio *****************************************************

70.2%

29.9%

83.4%

37.5%

Combined ratio***************************************************

100.1%

120.9%

119

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Fairfax with Equity Accounting of Lindsey Morden

Consolidated Balance Sheets
as at December 31, 2002 and 2001

(unaudited – Cdn$ millions)

Assets

Cash and short term investments **************************
Marketable securities **************************************
Accounts receivable and other *****************************
Recoverable from reinsurers ********************************

Portfolio investments
Subsidiary cash and short term investments (market value –

$2,693.4; 2001 – $2,251.5) *******************************
Bonds (market value – $11,869.8; 2001 – $11,424.2) *********
Preferred stocks (market value – $249.7; 2001 – $126.4) ******
Common stocks (market value – $1,125.4; 2001 – $910.7) ***
Investments in Hub, Zenith National and Advent (market

value – $525.4; 2001 – $556.3) ***************************
Real estate (market value – $38.2; 2001 – $82.7) *************
Total (market value – $16,501.9; 2001 – $15,351.8) ************
Investment in Lindsey Morden *****************************
Deferred premium acquisition costs ************************
Future income taxes ***************************************
Premises and equipment ***********************************
Goodwill *************************************************
Other assets***********************************************

Liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities ********************
Funds withheld payable to reinsurers ***********************

Provision for claims ***************************************
Unearned premiums***************************************
Long term debt *******************************************
Purchase consideration payable ****************************
Trust preferred securities of subsidiaries *********************

Non-controlling interests **********************************
Excess of net assets acquired over purchase price paid *******

Shareholders’ Equity

Common stock *******************************************
Preferred stock ********************************************
Retained earnings *****************************************
Currency translation account ******************************

120

2002

2001

481.2
36.5
3,424.8
11,992.9

751.5
81.9
3,228.2
12,802.1

15,935.4

16,863.7

2,693.4
11,681.9
253.0
1,073.6

559.7
32.4

2,251.5
11,745.3
126.8
870.8

502.2
78.3

16,294.0

15,574.9

87.5
593.4
1,532.9
153.0
41.0
91.0

98.0
518.0
1,699.6
168.8
43.8
86.9

34,728.2

35,053.7

1,870.9
1,516.1

3,387.0

21,165.1
3,300.4
2,221.2
324.7
340.9

1,688.4
1,793.1

3,481.5

22,085.8
2,645.9
2,205.8
–
360.8

27,352.3

27,298.3

437.4

–

2,235.2
200.0
1,244.4
(128.1)

3,551.5

979.8

51.4

2,261.4
200.0
796.2
(14.9)

3,242.7

34,728.2

35,053.7

Fairfax with Equity Accounting of Lindsey Morden

Consolidated Statements of Earnings
for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001

(unaudited – Cdn$ millions except per share amounts)

Revenue

Gross premiums written ************************************

8,128.6

6,838.0

Net premiums written **************************************

6,338.5

5,045.1

2002

2001

Net premiums earned***************************************
Interest and dividends **************************************
Realized gains on investments*******************************
Realized gain on OdysseyRe IPO *****************************
Equity earnings (loss) of Lindsey Morden ********************

6,110.1

4,806.7

657.7

737.7

–

(10.5)

680.8

162.3

51.2

(3.9)

7,495.0

5,697.1

Expenses

Losses on claims********************************************
Operating expenses *****************************************
Commissions, net ******************************************
Interest expense ********************************************
Restructuring and other costs *******************************
Swiss Re premiums *****************************************
Kingsmead losses *******************************************
Negative goodwill ******************************************

4,711.9

1,018.6

1,109.6

125.0

89.9

4.2

–

–

4,062.8

937.0

1,041.4

155.2

49.1

143.6

116.7

(78.6)

Earnings (loss) before income taxes***********************
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes *********************

Earnings (loss) from operations and before

extraordinary item **************************************
Negative goodwill ******************************************

Net earnings (loss) before non-controlling interests *****
Non-controlling interests ***********************************

Net earnings (loss) *****************************************

7,059.2

6,427.2

435.8

234.6

201.2

298.5

499.7

(84.0)

415.7

(730.1)

(382.5)

(347.6)

–

(347.6)

1.6

(346.0)

Net earnings (loss) per share before extraordinary item

and after non-controlling interests *********************
Net earnings (loss) per share ******************************

$ 7.89

$ 28.78

$ (28.04)

$ (28.04)

121

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited

Unconsolidated Balance Sheets
as at December 31, 2002 and 2001

(unaudited – Cdn$ millions)

Assets

Subsidiary companies

Insurance – Canada *********************************************
Insurance – U.S. ************************************************
Reinsurance ****************************************************
Runoff(1) ********************************************************
Other investments ************************************************

Cash and short term investments **********************************
Marketable securities **********************************************
Swiss Re recoverable (net)(2) ****************************************
Other assets ******************************************************

2002(1)

2001

666.8

593.0

1,640.8

1,981.1

1,209.1

1,017.0

1,389.2

67.1

440.0

19.5

4,973.0

4,050.6

481.2

36.5

–

58.4

751.5

81.9

543.4

86.5

5,549.1

5,513.9

Liabilities

Accounts payable and other liabilities ******************************
Long term debt ***************************************************

261.9

397.5

1,735.7

1,873.7

Shareholders’ Equity

Common stock ***************************************************
Preferred stock ****************************************************
Retained earnings *************************************************
Currency translation account **************************************

1,997.6

2,271.2

2,235.2

2,261.4

200.0

1,244.4

200.0

796.2

(128.1)

(14.9)

3,551.5

3,242.7

5,549.1

5,513.9

(1) TIG is included in runoff as a result of its merger with International Insurance on December 16, 2002.

(2) As of December 31, 2002, the Swiss Re Cover was assigned in its entirety to ORC Re which was accounted for

at book values as a transaction between companies under common control.

Note: These unconsolidated balance sheets do not include debt issued by Fairfax’s subsidiary companies (TIG –
$169.5;  2001  –  $181.2;  OdysseyRe  –  $316.0;  2001  –  $239.4;  and  Lindsey  Morden  –  $129.4;  2001  –
$133.2).

122

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited

Unconsolidated Statements of Earnings
(combined holding company earnings statements)

for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001

(unaudited – Cdn$ millions)

Revenue

Dividend income *****************************************************
Interest income ******************************************************
Management fees *****************************************************
Realized gains ********************************************************
Realized gain on OdysseyRe IPO ***************************************

146.0

13.9

31.5

217.1

–

54.9

8.8

24.5

84.2

51.2

2002

2001

Expenses

Interest expense ******************************************************
Operating expenses ***************************************************
Other ****************************************************************

408.5

223.6

122.7

166.0

51.5

19.8

51.4

6.7

194.0

224.1

Earnings (loss) before income taxes*********************************

214.5

(0.5)

123

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

APPENDIX A – NOVEMBER 8, 2002 LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

November 8, 2002

To our shareholders:

We are back! What a difference a year  makes. Last year, we reported  the largest loss
($458 million) in our history in the third quarter. This  year, in the third  quarter, we reported
the largest quarterly profit ($281 million) in  our  history. Our gross premiums  written are up
22%  in the first nine months of 2002 while our  net premiums written are up 33%. The
combined ratio for the first nine months  was 103.3%. If  you drill  a  little deeper, it gets even
better, as the table below shows.

Year to date
September 30, 2002

Combined
Ratio
(%)

Net Premiums
Written
(% change)

Canadian Insurance Companies

Commonwealth ****************************************
Federated*********************************************
Lombard *********************************************
Markel ***********************************************

Total **************************************************

U.S. Insurance Companies

Crum & Forster ***************************************
TIG – Total*******************************************
 – Continuing **************************************
 – Discontinued ************************************

Total **************************************************

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe ********************************

Total Fairfax *******************************************

93.5

94.8

98.7

97.1

97.4

104.0

111.2

104.2

120.0

108.2

99.2

103.3

+212

+18

+24

+60

+54

+61*

–14*

+50

–58

+11

+67

+33

* +13% for Crum & Forster and –22% for TIG including ceded reinsurance premiums in

2001

In my letter to you last year and in our annual report, I said that in this hard market, we

would expand our business significantly, keep more of it and get our combined ratios below

100%. This is exactly what has happened at our Canadian insurance companies and

OdysseyRe. At Crum & Forster, the continuing improvements resulted in an excellent third

quarter – net premiums written were up 35% (including ceded reinsurance premiums in

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2001) and the combined ratio was 102.6% – and we are well on our way to meeting our

combined ratio objectives.

At TIG, consistent with our expectations as discussed in our 2001 annual report and our

first quarter 2002 report, net premiums written dropped by 14% in the first nine months

because of TIG’s exit from a significant part of its program business written through MGAs.

Excluding this discontinued business, net premiums written were up 50% and the combined

ratio was 104.2% for the first nine months of 2002. TIG is the only one of our companies

that has failed to achieve our objectives but, rest assured, it will, albeit from a smaller base.

While our underwriting operations were strong and benefiting from the hard market, the

left hand side of our balance sheet also continued to be very strong. We made realized gains

of $592 million in the first nine months of 2002 while ending the quarter with an

unrealized gain of $227 million in bonds and with unrealized common stock gains

maintaining their end of 2001 level around $95 million. Notwithstanding the significant

drop in equity markets in 2002, the total return for the portfolio in the first nine months

was 10.0%. At September 30, 2002, our investment portfolio had $2.6 billion in cash (16%

of the portfolio), 56% of the bond portfolio was in government bonds (mainly

U.S. treasuries) and only 7% of the portfolio was in common stock (excluding Hub, Zenith

National and Advent).

In the last few years, we have protected our investment portfolio from a 1 in 50 year or 1 in

100 year stock market decline, not unlike the catastrophe protection we buy for our

insurance operations. This protection has served us well as U.S. and European stock markets

have declined by approximately 50% from their highs. Many insurance companies,

particularly European, have had significant declines in net worth because of their equity

exposures.

Our investment portfolio has benefited as throughout the market ‘‘bubble’’, we had no

stock or bond investments in telecoms, techs or the various high fliers like Enron or Tyco.

Our bond portfolios have benefited from being of very high quality, having to a large extent

two maturity dates (put bonds) and not having ‘‘reached for yield’’. ‘‘Reaching for yield’’

has been magnified by the focus in the P&C industry on ‘‘operating’’ income as opposed to

‘‘net’’ income. Thus, many insurance companies have recently had significant growth in

‘‘operating’’ income but have reported little ‘‘net’’ income or even losses because of realized

investment losses. We have always focused on growing book value through net income

from all sources. The P&C industry focus on ‘‘operating’’ income has perhaps also led

insurers to underwrite credit derivatives (like credit default swaps) and other risky financial

products, which it is our policy to avoid.

So, are we still concerned about the 1 in 50 / 100 year stock market decline? A major stock

market decline has already taken place – this is why our S&P 500 put position has dropped

from US$1.1 billion to US$400 million. However, we still see major risks in the broad

market indices and in the U.S. economy. Why? Two major reasons:

1.

In spite of the S&P 500 being down almost 50% from its high, it is still selling at

around 20 times earnings and about 3.5 times book value. Optimism abounds in the

stock market and investors continue to focus on the long term irrespective of price.

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FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

2.

Short-term interest rates have dropped dramatically in 2001/2002 to 40 year lows and

yet business conditions, with the exception of housing and autos, continue to be weak.

It seems to us that the Federal Reserve may have exhausted its ammunition to prolong

the economic cycle any further.

We think the risks that we have discussed in our annual reports (a run on mutual funds,

bonds collateralized with consumer debt) and the more recent ones, including rising

unfunded pension liabilities, continue to be very significant. Having said that, as long-term

value oriented investors, these financial markets (where fundamental analysis is again very

important) are markets in which we have historically excelled – and we have more than

$1,100 per share of investments to work with!

An update on three significant potential risks that we have discussed in our annual report:

1. Reinsurance Recoverables. Utilizing our expertise at TRG, we continuously review this

exposure and we continue to feel comfortable that we will fully recover our net

reinsurance recoverable. Details of our top 50 reinsurers were listed on page 76 in our

2001 annual report. One that recently has been a concern for many analysts is Gerling

Global. The net recoverable of $134.5 million as of December 31, 2001 has been

reduced to $77.2 million due to additional security obtained in 2002. This balance is

largely recoverable from Gerling Global (U.S.), which had statutory surplus of

US$335 million at June 30, 2002, or from a Gerling Global branch where regulators

require the maintenance of trust funds. Also, we have purchased some high quality

credit protection on reinsurers we have concerns about. In spite of the tough times in

2002, we have not had and do not expect to have any problems in this area.

2. Deferred Tax Asset. This has come down by $141 million in the first nine months of

2002. We continue to feel confident that the balance will be realized from future

profitable operations.

3. Asbestos Liabilities.

In our annual report, asbestos liabilities are discussed in some detail

beginning on page 73, and our meaningful reinsurance protection is discussed on

page 79. Recognizing that this continues to be a developing area, we are comfortable

with the outstanding expertise we have at TRG where these liabilities are actively

reviewed.

Two other areas which have recently been the object of investor concern for companies

generally are the effect on earnings of expensing stock options and the existence of

unfunded liabilities under defined benefit pension plans. Neither of these is an area of

significance for Fairfax. As to the first, Fairfax has never issued treasury stock options and

has always expensed the cost of its stock incentives over the term of the incentives. As to

the other, Fairfax has only limited ongoing defined benefit plans throughout the group.

Taken in the aggregate, the approximately $400 million of assets in these plans are close to

90% invested in cash and fixed income securities, expected rates of return are less than 7%

and there is a minimal unfunded liability.

In our third quarter 2002 quarterly report, we state once again that our company’s objective

is to maintain cash, short-term investments and marketable securities in the holding

126

company of at least five times the company’s annual interest expense until the company’s

consolidated combined ratio comes down below 105% and its earnings cover its annual

interest expense by five times. While we have achieved these combined ratio and earnings

coverage tests for the nine months to September 30, 2002, it is still our objective to

maintain approximately $500 million in cash and investments in the holding company at

year-end 2002. Subject to this objective, we will continue to buy back our stock and bonds

as we have done in the first nine months of 2002.

As discussed in our annual meeting and confirmed at our July 9 investor meeting in

New York, we expect to list Fairfax shares on the NYSE on December 18. Like most

Canadian interlisted companies, we will continue to express our accounts in Canadian

dollars and use Canadian GAAP, with U.S. GAAP reconciliations disclosed every quarter.

Given the NYSE listing, we plan to have an annual investor meeting in New York.

I have given you an update on all the relevant factors that affect Fairfax with no comments

yet on the current stock price. Even though you know we have never paid much attention

to short-term stock prices, I must say that I never thought that our stock price would fall as

low as it has in 2002. For the first time in 17 years, I and our directors and key officers, after

Fairfax pre-announced its realized gains, bought as many shares as we could afford (and

then some!). There is nothing more we could do to let you, our long-term shareholders,

know that we felt Fairfax’s current stock price was ridiculously undervalued. We continue to

feel that Fairfax’s time has come and your patience will be rewarded as we reap the benefits

of the hard cycle, our focus on combined ratios and our disciplined long-term value

approach to investing.

V. Prem Watsa

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FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

APPENDIX B

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

OBJECTIVES:

1) We expect to earn long term returns on shareholders’ equity in excess of 15% annually

by running Fairfax and its subsidiaries for the long term benefit of customers,

employees and shareholders – at the expense of short term profits if necessary.

Our focus is long term growth in book value per share and not quarterly earnings. We

plan to grow through internal means as well as through friendly acquisitions.

2) We always want to be soundly financed.

3) We provide complete disclosure annually to our shareholders.

STRUCTURE:

1) Our companies are decentralized and run by the presidents except for performance

evaluation, succession planning, acquisitions and financing which are done by or with

Fairfax. Cooperation among companies is encouraged to the benefit of Fairfax in total.

2) Complete and open communication between Fairfax and subsidiaries is an essential

requirement at Fairfax.

3)

Share ownership and large incentives are encouraged across the Group.

4)

Fairfax will always be a very small holding company and not an operating company.

VALUES:

1) Honesty and integrity are essential in all our relationships and will never be

compromised.

2) We are results oriented – not political.

3) We are team players – no ‘‘egos’’. A confrontational style is not appropriate. We value

loyalty – to Fairfax and our colleagues.

4) We are hard working but not at the expense of our families.

5) We always look at opportunities but emphasize downside protection and look for ways

to minimize loss of capital.

6) We are entrepreneurial. We encourage calculated risk taking. It is all right to fail but we

should learn from our mistakes.

7) We will never bet the company on any project or acquisition.

8) We believe in having fun – at work!

128

Total
assets(2)

Invest-
ments

Net
debt(3)

Share-
holders’

Shares
equity outstanding

Closing
share
price

Consolidated Financial Summary (in Cdn$ millions except share and per share data)(1)

Per Share

Return on
average

shareholders’ holders’
equity

equity

Net
Share- earnings
– fully
diluted Revenue

As at and for the years ended December 31:

Earnings
before
income

Net
taxes earnings

(0.9)

(0.9)

9.1

18.2

21.3

19.2

23.2

32.5

7.0

46.7

46.0

95.9

6.5

16.0

14.4

16.7

21.3

22.5

10.0

33.3

38.1

87.5

–

25.4%

31.3%

2.08

5.89

8.32

21.2% 10.13

20.3% 12.41

23.0% 17.29

21.3% 21.41

7.7% 23.76

20.3% 35.13

12.1% 43.77

(1.89)

1.35

2.23

1.94

2.25

2.92

3.94

1.76

5.42

4.66

17.0

53.7

113.0

133.6

125.8

195.4

250.0

286.8

344.0

634.9

20.1% 53.28

9.79 1,145.5

41.5

129.8

185.4

246.8

248.1

536.0

516.6

590.5

1,200.3

32.7

95.6

124.0

137.5

133.9

335.7

341.2

396.2

848.8

2,173.4

1,551.3

2,873.5

1,668.1

–

2.8

2.8

28.2

22.0

65.9

51.3

68.2

132.4

218.0

227.7

369.4

10.4

41.3

61.0

74.2

90.8

94.7

116.8

143.8

279.5

391.9

472.6

911.1

21.4% 87.05

15.36 1,475.8

20.4% 125.38

21.59 2,088.3

20.1% 184.54

32.63 3,574.3

187.3

336.0

484.8

150.8

5,778.4

3,454.5

232.5 10,207.3

5,795.7

511.3

1,395.7

387.5 20,886.7 12,108.4

1,139.0

2,238.9

4.3% 231.98

9.20 5,788.5

(17.3) 124.2 31,979.1 17,842.1

1,246.3

3,116.0

4.1% 242.75

9.41 6,188.5

(32.9) 137.4 31,833.3 15,687.2

1,306.0

3,180.3

(11.9%) 213.06 (28.04) 6,125.7

(736.1)

(346.0) 35,438.7 16,419.2

1,372.4

3,042.7

12.8% 237.01

28.78 7,962.3

432.5

415.7 35,110.5 16,812.6

2,028.2

3,351.5

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

5.0

7.0

7.3

7.3

7.3

5.5

5.5

6.1

8.0

9.0

8.9

10.5

11.1

12.1

13.4

13.1

14.4

14.1

3.25(4)
12.75

12.37

15.00

18.75

11.00

21.25

25.00

61.25

67.00

98.00

290.00

320.00

540.00

245.50

228.50

164.00

121.11

(1) All share references are to common shares; shares outstanding are in millions
(2) Commencing in 1995, reflects a change in accounting policy for reinsurance recoverables
(3) Total debt (beginning in 1994, net of cash in the holding company) with Lindsey Morden equity accounted
(4) When current management took over in September 1985

129

FAIRFAX  FINANCIAL  HOLDINGS  LIMITED

Directors of the Company
* Frank B. Bennett (as of April 2003)

President, Artesian Management, Inc.

* Anthony F. Griffiths
Corporate Director

* Robbert Hartog

President, Robhar Investments Ltd.
V. Prem Watsa
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

* Audit Committee Member

Operating Management
John Watson, Chairman
Ronald Schwab, President
Commonwealth Insurance Company
Bruce Esselborn, Chairman
Crum & Forster Holdings, Inc.
Kenneth Kwok, President
Falcon Insurance Company (Hong Kong)
Limited
John M. Paisley, President
Federated Insurance Company of Canada
Anthony F. Hamblin, President
Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd.
Martin P. Hughes, Chairman
Richard A. Gulliver, President
Hub International Limited
Karen Murphy, President
Lindsey Morden Group Inc.
Byron G. Messier, President
Lombard General Insurance Company of
Canada
Mark J. Ram, President
Markel Insurance Company of Canada
Andrew A. Barnard, President
Odyssey Re Holdings Corp.
Dennis C. Gibbs, Chairman
TRG Holding Corporation

Officers of the Company
Trevor J. Ambridge
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Sam Chan
Vice President
Francis Chou
Vice President
Jean Cloutier
Vice President and Chief Actuary
J. Paul T. Fink
Vice President
Jonathan Godown
Vice President
Bradley P. Martin
Vice President and Corporate Secretary
Eric P. Salsberg
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Ronald Schokking
Vice President, Finance
V. Prem Watsa
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
M. Jane Williamson
Vice President

Officers of Fairfax Inc.
John Cassil, Vice President
James F. Dowd, President
Scott Galiardo, Vice President
Stewart Gleason, Vice President
Roland Jackson, Vice President

Head Office
95 Wellington Street West
Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2N7
Telephone (416) 367-4941
Website www.fairfax.ca

Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

General Counsel
Torys

Transfer Agents and Registrars
CIBC Mellon Trust Company, Toronto
Mellon Investor Services LLC, New York

Share Listings
Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges
Stock Symbol FFH

Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of shareholders of
Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited will be
held on Monday, April 14, 2003 at 9:30 a.m.
in Room 105 at the Metro Toronto
Convention Centre, 255 Front Street West,
Toronto.

130