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Fairfax Financial

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Industry Insurance - Property & Casualty
Employees 51-200
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FY2009 Annual Report · Fairfax Financial
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2009 Annual Report

Contents

Five Year Financial Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Corporate Profile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chairman’s Letter to Shareholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial

Statements and Management’s Report on Internal

Control over Financial Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Independent Auditors’ Report to the Shareholders . . .

Valuation Actuary’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fairfax Consolidated Financial Statements . . . . . . . . .

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. . . . . . . .

1

2

4

16

17

19

20

28

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial

Condition and Results of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Appendix A – Fairfax Guiding Principles . . . . . . . . . . 179

Consolidated Financial Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

Corporate Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

2009 Annual Report

Five Year Financial Highlights

(in US$ millions except share and per share data or as otherwise indicated)
2005
2007

2009

2008

2006

Revenue

Net earnings (loss)

6,635.6

856.8

7,825.6

1,473.8

7,510.2

1,095.8

6,803.7

227.5

5,900.5

(446.6)

Total assets

28,402.8

27,305.4

27,941.8

26,576.5

27,542.0

Common shareholders’

equity

7,391.8

4,866.3

4,063.5

2,662.4

2,448.2

Common shares

outstanding – year-
end (millions)

Increase (decrease) in

20.0

17.5

17.7

17.7

17.8

book value per share

32.9%

21.0%

53.2%

9.2%

(15.5%)

Per share

Diluted net earnings

(loss)

Common

43.75

79.53

58.38

11.92

(27.75)

shareholders’ equity

369.80

Dividends paid

Market prices

TSX – Cdn$

High

Low

Close

TSX/NYSE – US$

High

Low

Close

8.00

417.35

272.38

410.00

393.00

211.01

393.00

278.28

5.00

230.01

2.75

150.16

1.40

137.50

1.40

390.00

221.94

390.00

355.48

210.50

313.41

311.87

195.25

287.00

310.34

169.41

286.13

241.00

100.00

231.67

209.00

88.87

198.50

218.50

158.29

168.00

179.90

126.73

143.36

Please see the Consolidated Financial Summary on page 180, which shows
Fairfax’s financial highlights since inception in 1985.

1

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Corporate Profile

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a financial services holding company whose corporate objective is to
build long term shareholder value by achieving a high rate of compound growth in book value per share over the long
term. The company has been under present management since September 1985.

Canadian insurance

Northbridge Financial, based in Toronto, provides property and casualty insurance products through its Com-
monwealth, Federated, Lombard and Markel subsidiaries, primarily in the Canadian market as well as in selected
U.S. markets. It is one of the largest commercial property and casualty insurers in Canada based on gross premiums
written. In 2009, Northbridge’s net premiums written were Cdn$1,054.4 million. At year-end, the company had
shareholders’ equity of Cdn$1,410.9 million and there were 1,622 employees.

U.S. insurance

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. Since January 1, 2006,
the specialty niche property and casualty and accident and health insurance business formerly carried on by
Fairmont Insurance is being carried on as the Fairmont Specialty division of C&F. In 2009, C&F’s net premiums
written were US$716.4 million. At year-end, the company had statutory surplus of US$1,628.2 million (shareholders’
equity of US$1,517.7 million on a US GAAP basis) and there were 1,345 employees.

Asian insurance

First Capital, based in Singapore, writes property and casualty insurance primarily to Singapore markets. In 2009,
First Capital’s net premiums written were SGD 131.6 million (approximately SGD 1.4 = US$1). At year-end, the
company had shareholders’ equity of SGD 262.7 million and there were 93 employees.

Falcon Insurance, based in Hong Kong, writes property and casualty insurance to niche markets in Hong Kong. In
2009, Falcon’s net premiums written were HK$288.9 million (approximately HK$7.8 = US$1). At year-end, the
company had shareholders’ equity of HK$452.8 million and there were 89 employees.

Reinsurance

OdysseyRe, based in Stamford, Connecticut, underwrites treaty and facultative reinsurance as well as specialty
insurance business, with principal locations in the United States, Toronto, London, Paris, Singapore and Latin
America. In 2009, OdysseyRe’s net premiums written were US$1,893.8 million. At year-end, the company had
statutory surplus of US$3,512.8 million (shareholders’ equity of US$3,555.2 million on a US GAAP basis) and there
were 721 employees.

Advent, based in the U.K., is a reinsurance and insurance company, operating through Syndicates 780 and 3330 at
Lloyd’s, focused on specialty property reinsurance and insurance risks. In 2009, Advent’s net premiums written
were US$277.0 million. At year-end, the company had shareholders’ equity of US$165.6 million and there were
52 employees.

Polish Re, based in Warsaw, Poland, writes reinsurance business in the Central and Eastern European regions. In
2009, Polish Re’s net premiums written were PLN 244.4 million (approximately PLN 2.9 = US$1). At year-end, the
company had shareholders’ equity of PLN 233.7 million and there were 41 employees.

Group Re primarily constitutes the participation by CRC (Bermuda) and Wentworth (based in Barbados) in the
reinsurance of Fairfax’s subsidiaries by quota share or through participation in those subsidiaries’ third party
reinsurance programs on the same terms and pricing as the third party reinsurers. Group Re also writes third party
business. In 2009, Group Re’s net premiums written were US$263.7 million. At year-end, the Group Re companies
had combined shareholders’ equity of US$332.7 million.

2

Runoff

The runoff business comprises the U.S. runoff group and the European runoff group. The U.S. runoff group consists of
the company resulting from the December 2002 merger of TIG and International Insurance and the Fairmont legal
entities placed in runoff on January 1, 2006. At year-end, the merged U.S. company had shareholders’ equity of
US$1,110.5 million (statutory surplus of US$750.4 million). The European runoff group consists of RiverStone
Insurance UK and nSpire Re. At year-end, this group had combined shareholders’ equity (including amounts related
to nSpire Re’s financing of Fairfax’s U.S. insurance and reinsurance companies) of US$1,255.9 million.

The Resolution Group (TRG) and the RiverStone Group (run by TRG management) manage runoff under the
RiverStone name. At year-end, TRG/RiverStone had 139 employees in the U.S., located primarily in Manchester, New
Hampshire, and 58 employees in its offices in the United Kingdom.

Other

Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel, founded in 1984 and based in Toronto, provides investment management
to the insurance, reinsurance and runoff subsidiaries of Fairfax.

Notes:

(1) All companies are wholly owned. Northbridge Financial became wholly owned in February 2009, Advent in

September 2009 and OdysseyRe in October 2009.

(2) The foregoing lists all of Fairfax’s operating subsidiaries. The Fairfax corporate structure also includes a 26%
interest in ICICI Lombard (an Indian property and casualty insurance company), a 40.5% interest in Falcon
Thailand, a 22.7% interest in PTU S.A. (a Polish property and casualty insurance company), a 20.0% interest
in Singapore Re, an approximate 20% interest in Arab Orient Insurance (a Jordanian company), an approx-
imate 20% interest in Alliance Insurance (a Dubai, U. A. E. company), and investments in International Coal
Group (27.7%), The Brick (12.8%), Cunningham Lindsey (43.6%) and Ridley (71.0%). The other companies
in the Fairfax corporate structure, principally investment or intermediate holding companies (including
companies located in various jurisdictions outside North America), are not part of these operating groups;
these other companies had no insurance, reinsurance, runoff or other operations.

3

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

To Our Shareholders:

We ended the first decade of the 21st century with one of our best years ever. Our book value per share increased by 35%
to $369.801 per share (including the $8.00 per share dividend paid in 2009). Common shareholders’ equity increased
from $4.9 billion at December 31, 2008 to $7.4 billion at December 31, 2009 – an increase of $2.5 billion (of which
$1.0 billion was new capital raised for the privatization of OdysseyRe). In the financial crisis years of 2008/2009,
common shareholders’ equity increased from $4.1 billion to $7.4 billion – an increase of $3.3 billion – resulting in an
increase in book value per common share of 61%, not including dividends – far more than any company in our
industry! This increase in shareholders’ equity, together with the decrease in net premiums written due to the soft
markets, has resulted in a build up of very significant excess capital in our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries.

In 1985, we began with $30 million in assets and $7.6 million in common equity. We ended 2009, 24 years later, with
$28 billion in assets and $7.4 billion in common equity – almost 1,000 times higher than when we began. More
importantly, since inception, book value per share has compounded by 26% per year, while our common stock price
has followed at 22% per year.

Over the past decade, which included six of our biblical seven lean years (1999-2005), book value per share increased
by 2.4 times or 9% per year (excluding dividends) – shy of our objective of 15% but significantly better than the S&P500
(a negative 1.0% per year) and among the top performers in our industry, which was impacted by huge catastrophes
(September 11, 2001, significant U.S. hurricane activity in 2004, 2005 and 2008) and the financial crisis in 2008.

Our performance in the past three years allowed us to privatize Northbridge and, recently, OdysseyRe. Our three
largest companies are now once again 100% owned – for the first time since we took OdysseyRe public in 2001. We
took OdysseyRe public at $18.00 per share and privatized it at $65.00 per share – a 17.3% return (including dividends)
for OdysseyRe’s public shareholders over approximately eight years, versus a negative return of 0.7% for the S&P500
during the same period. Our offer of $65.00 per share was unanimously recommended by the Independent
Committee of the Board of OdysseyRe, which had retained Sandler O’Neill as its financial advisor. OdysseyRe
continues to be excellently run by Andy Barnard as CEO and Brian Young as COO. Also during the year, we privatized
Advent at £2.20 per share. You will remember that we have known Brian Caudle and Advent since 2000. Our offer was
unanimously recommended by the Advent Board of Directors. Brian Caudle continues as Chairman and we welcome
Keith Thompson (CEO), Trevor Ambridge (Managing Director) and all the Advent employees to the Fairfax family.

We maintained a very strong financial position in spite of these privatizations as we financed the OdysseyRe purchase
with 100% equity by issuing 2.9 million shares at $347.00 per share for $1 billion, the largest equity issue in our
history. Also during the year, we did our first Canadian bond issue (Cdn$400 million at 7.5% with a 10-year maturity)
and – also in Canada – our first public perpetual redeemable preferred issue (Cdn$250 million at 5.75% for the first
5 years). We ended the year with $1.2 billion in cash and marketable securities at the holding company.

P&C companies can be cash flow machines when disciplined underwriting is combined with excellent long term
investing. The normalized annual free cash flow generation capability of our three largest companies is now in the
area of $500 million to $1 billion and over time will be a very significant positive for Fairfax.

The results of our major subsidiaries in 2009 are shown below:

Northbridge

Crum & Forster

OdysseyRe

Fairfax Asia

Net
Earnings
after Tax

Return on
Average
Shareholders’
Equity

91.8

212.7

486.9

38.3

7.0%

17.7%

15.1%

13.3%

Combined
Ratio

105.9%

104.1%

96.7%

82.6%

On a consolidated basis, Fairfax had a combined ratio of 99.8% in 2009, in spite of soft markets across the world. More
on the individual company combined ratios later. Fairfax Asia continues to become more significant for us.

1Amounts in this letter are in U.S. dollars unless specified otherwise. Numbers in the tables in this letter are in U.S. dollars and
$millions except as otherwise indicated.

4

The table below shows our major subsidiaries’ growth in book value over the past eight years (adjusted by including
distributions to shareholders). All four of these companies have compounded book values at very attractive rates
(recognize that book value includes meaningful unrealized gains).

Northbridge

Crum & Forster

OdysseyRe

Fairfax Asia

2001 – 2009
Annual Compound
Growth Rate

18.6%

19.0%

22.7%

24.8%*

* 2002 – 2009 as Fairfax Asia began in 2002 with the purchase of First Capital.

Our investment team had another excellent year in 2009. After earning a total return of 16.4% in 2008 on our
investment portfolios, we had a total return of 12.2% in 2009. The total return (including unrealized gains and losses)
on our investment portfolios includes our credit default swap positions and our equity hedges in both years. Our
common stock and bond portfolios did very well in 2009. Total interest and dividend income and net investment
gains in 2009 (including at the holding company) were $1.6 billion after recording $340 million in other than
temporary impairments and $308 million of mark-to-market losses. Interest and dividend income increased in 2009
to $713 million from $626 million in 2008 but net investment gains decreased to $945 million from an extraordinary
$2.6 billion in 2008. Our results in 2008/2009 are quite exceptional – no other company in the industry has even
come close to matching them – and it is highly unlikely we will ever repeat them in the future! A standing ovation
again to our small investment team.

The table below shows the increase in pre-tax interest and dividend income since we began in 1985 – in total and on a
per share basis.

1985

1990

2000

2009

Interest and
dividend
income

3.4

17.7

534.0

712.7

Per share

$ 0.70

2.35

40.54

38.94

In 2009, for the first time ever, a significant portion of our pre-tax investment income (approximately $241 million)
was derived from U.S. “Muni” bonds, the majority of which are taxed at very low rates (approximately 5%). On an
apples to apples basis, converting this low tax rate income to fully taxed pre-tax equivalent income results in
investment income from “Munis” being approximately $350 million. Total investment income in 2009, on a pre-tax
equivalent basis, increases from $713 million to approximately $822 million or approximately $40 per currently
outstanding share.

Realized and unrealized gains have fluctuated over time, but have been a major source of earnings and capital for
Fairfax over the years, as shown in the table below.

1985

1990

2000

2009

Realized and
unrealized
gains (losses)

Per share

0.5

$ 0.10

(26.5)

843.2

(3.52)

64.01

2,021.2

110.44

In fact, realized and unrealized gains have contributed $10.2 billion pre-tax to capital since we began in 1985. These
gains, while unpredictable, are a major source of strength to Fairfax, as they add to our capital base and the increased

5

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

capital can be used to internally finance our expansion. As we have explained many times before, the unpredictable
timing of these gains makes our quarterly (or even annual) earnings and book value quite volatile, as we saw in 2009.

Earnings (loss) per share

Book value/share

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

$ (3.55)

15.56

30.88

1.65

$255 ($278 as of December 31, 2008)

316

372

370

No quarterly (or yearly) guidance from us!

The investment section in the MD&A gives you a lot more detail on our long term investment record.

Last year gave us an outstanding opportunity to add to our investment holdings of excellent companies with fine
long term track records. All things being equal, we expect to hold these common stocks for the very long term.

Wells Fargo

Johnson & Johnson

US Bancorp

Kraft Foods

As of December 31, 2009

Shares owned
(millions)

20.0

7.6

15.9

10.7

Cost per
share

$19.36

61.00

16.27

26.55

Amount
invested

Market
value

388

463

258

285

540

488

356

291

Wells Fargo, as you know, is a wonderful bank in the U.S. with an outstanding long term track record. In the financial
crisis of 2008/2009, it seized the opportunity to double its size (without much overlap) through the purchase of
Wachovia Corporation, while increasing its shares outstanding by only about a quarter. Today it has more than
70 million customers in the U.S. with a net interest margin of 4.3%, the highest among the major U.S. banks. With
80+ separate businesses, cross selling at least six products per customer and a funding base of $800 billion in deposits
at a cost of 40 basis points – all embedded in a risk averse culture under John Stumpf’s leadership – Wells Fargo is well
positioned for strong growth over the next decade and we expect to be a major beneficiary.

US Bancorp is, similar to Wells Fargo, an outstanding bank with a great track record. Like Wells Fargo, it has benefited
from the financial crisis by making many tuck-in acquisitions (FDIC assisted). It also has a very profitable payments
processing division with worldwide expansion prospects. Under Richard Davis’ leadership and with its risk averse
culture, we expect to be a major beneficiary in the next decade. We continue to like Johnson & Johnson and we
believe that Kraft Foods will, over time, benefit greatly from its purchase of Cadbury’s (one example – Cadbury’s has a
distribution network of over 1 million stores in India!). All these are very high quality companies selling at modest
multiples compared to their past and relative to the S&P500!

We expect to hold these investments for a long period and if we are right, unrealized gains will become a significant
portion of our equity base (at year-end 2009 it was already significant at $747 million after tax). A side benefit will be a
smaller tax bill (until we sell), since gains generally compound tax free while we hold the investments.

In 2009, Fairfax continued to grow internationally. We began a new insurance venture in the vibrant Brazilian market
with a team led by a highly respected and successful Brazilian insurance executive, Jacques Bergman. Jacques has one
of the best track records in the Brazilian commercial insurance market. We look forward to working with Jacques, as
President of Fairfax Brasil, and with the many accomplished professionals on his management team, and we welcome
them to the Fairfax family. A big thank you to Jan Christiansen and Brad Martin who spearheaded this project.

Also, after years of looking, we were pleased to partner with Alltrust Insurance Company of China, one of the leading
private insurers in China, by acquiring a 15% interest. Alltrust has shown excellent growth over the last five years and
we look forward to working with Alltrust’s Chairman, Henry Du, and his accomplished management team to further
develop their business, much like we have done with our joint venture in India, ICICI Lombard General Insurance.
Alltrust has been profitable since its inception and has over RMB 1 billion in capital (US$150 million). The company has
a national network across China with 25 provincial branches and 150 sub-branches and approximately 4,000 employ-
ees. A big thank you to Jim Dowd, Sam Chan and Leo Liu, who have worked on this project for the past five years.

6

Today, through OdysseyRe and our primary insurance operations, Fairfax operates in over 100 countries worldwide.
In fact, about 25% of our net premiums written come from outside North America – and this does not include
premiums from our equity interests in insurance operations in India, China and the Middle East.

Our performance in 2009 continued to raise our ratings. A.M. Best affirmed our financial strength ratings at the A
level and S&P raised Fairfax’s debt rating to investment grade and Crum & Forster’s financial strength rating to A–. We
are focused on raising our debt ratings to the A level over time and maintaining them there. This was why we financed
the privatization of OdysseyRe by issuing $1 billion in common equity, and we expect to continue to maintain a
minimum of A level financial strength.

As stock markets increased significantly from March 9, 2009 levels, our internal worst case testing resulted in our
hedging 25% of our equity exposure through the short sale of S&P500 indices in the third quarter (increased to 30%,
principally due to a reduction in our common stock positions in the fourth quarter). At year-end 2009, our insurance
and reinsurance companies are sufficiently capitalized to withstand a significant drop in the stock market plus a
major U.S. catastrophe without requiring additional capital from the holding company (which has $1.2 billion for
these purposes). We continue to be focused on withstanding the worst. No access to the Fed or Bank of Canada
window for us!

On September 23, 2010, we will be celebrating Fairfax’s 25th anniversary. With lots of good fortune, hard work and an
outstanding team culture, at the end of 2009 our book value per share had increased 243 times and our stock price
had followed suit, increasing 126 times – with one year yet to go! Talking about the long term, my favourite company
from the past is the British East India Company which began in 1600 and lasted the better part of 250 years! The
Queen was one of its major shareholders and imagine my shock when I read that its objective was to make 20% on
invested capital. The more things change. . . .

A Governor of The Honourable Company (as it was known) was once asked what the reasons for its success were.
“Two words”, he said, “Frenetic Inactivity”. 250 years is perhaps too long even for you, our long term shareholders!!

Speaking of the long term and why there is no place for complacency in business, AIG’s history is quite instructive. It
took AIG 89 years to accumulate almost $100 billion in shareholders’ capital and one year (2008) to lose it all.
Frightening! Recently, with my family, I visited the high school I graduated from some 45 years ago in Hyderabad,
India. Through all the nostalgia, I was shocked to see the school’s motto clearly on the main wall. “Be Vigilant”, it
said. And I thought I got it from reading Security Analysis by Ben Graham!!

The Insurance Cycle

The unexpected happened. In spite of the major investment problems suffered by the leading lights in the insurance
industry, no credit event occurred as the U.S. government bailed them out. As the investment markets all recovered
in 2009, the P&C insurance pricing environment, particularly in the U.S., continued to be soft. If this happened, as I
said in last year’s annual report, count on us shrinking our business further – and we did! We are not focused on the
top line (market share) but on underwriting profitability and the bottom line.

Insurance and Reinsurance Operations

Northbridge

Crum & Forster

Fairfax Asia

OdysseyRe

Other reinsurance

Consolidated

Combined Ratio
Year Ended December 31,

2009

2008

2007

105.9% 103.5% 96.5%

104.1% 117.6% 93.5%

82.6%

91.8% 70.4%

96.7% 101.3% 95.5%

98.1% 116.6% 95.8%

99.8% 106.2% 94.9%

Net Premiums
Written
% Change in

2009

(15.5)%

(18.4)%

47.9%

(6.7)%

174.1%

(1.1)%

With no major hurricanes in 2009 but a continued soft market, Fairfax had a consolidated combined ratio just below
100% – with conservative reserving. We benefited from there being no major catastrophes in 2009 – catastrophes

7

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

cost us 3.8 combined ratio points versus 10.3 combined ratio points in 2008 (of which 2.6 points in 2009 and
5.4 points in 2008 related to OdysseyRe). As discussed in the MD&A, the weak economy, soft insurance pricing and
higher expense ratios due to declining insurance volumes all impacted our combined ratios in 2009 – particularly in
our primary operations in Canada and the U.S. We have said many times in the past that in soft insurance markets, we
will let the business go and accept higher expense ratios but we will not underwrite at a loss. Our companies are doing
exactly that. It is very easy to fool yourself by writing loss making business and not reserving properly. Our Presidents
and officers are very focused on not doing that. Northbridge’s combined ratio was impacted adversely by 1.9% from
an increased expense ratio simply due to a decrease in net premiums earned and by several large incurred losses in its
small-to-medium accounts and trucking accounts. Similar to Northbridge, Crum & Forster’s combined ratio was
impacted adversely by 3% from an increased expense ratio due to a decrease in net premiums earned. All of our
insurance and reinsurance companies continued to build significant excess capital in 2009. They are very well
capitalized, as shown below for our major subsidiaries.

Northbridge

Crum & Forster

OdysseyRe

Fairfax Asia

(1) Canadian GAAP shareholders’ equity

Net Premiums
Written

Statutory
Surplus

928.7

716.4

1,893.8

127.9

1,411.3

1,628.2

3,512.8

327.8(1)

Net
Premiums
Written/
Statutory
Surplus

0.7

0.4

0.5

0.4

We have updated the float table for our insurance and reinsurance companies that we show you each year.

Underwriting
Profit (Loss)

Average
Float

Benefit
(Cost)
of Float

Average Long
Term Canada
Treasury Bond
Yield

2.5

21.6

11.6%

Year

1986

9.6%

4.4%
4.3%
4.3%
4.1%
3.9%
5.0%

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Weighted average since inception
Fairfax weighted average financing differential since inception: 2.7%

(437.5)
212.6
238.9
(280.9)
7.3

7,323.9
8,212.9
8,617.7
8,917.8
9,449.1

(6.0)%
2.6%
2.8%
(3.1)%
0.1%
(2.3)%

Float is the sum of loss reserves, including loss adjustment expense reserves, and unearned premium reserves, less
accounts receivable, reinsurance recoverables and deferred premium acquisition costs. As the table shows, the
average float from our operating companies increased 6.0% in 2009 at no cost to us (in fact, with a small benefit of
0.1%). Our long term goal is to increase the float at no cost. This, combined with our ability to invest the float well
over the long term, is why we could achieve our long term objective of compounding book value per share by 15% per
annum over the long term. The table below shows you the breakdown of our year-end float for the past five years.

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Canadian
Insurance

U.S.
Insurance

Asian

Insurance Reinsurance

1,461.8

1,586.0

1,887.4

1,739.1

2,052.8

1,884.9

1,853.8

1,812.8

2,125.1

2,088.9

120.2

85.4

86.9

68.9

125.7

4,501.1

4,932.6

4,990.4

5,125.0

5,572.7

Total
Insurance
and
Reinsurance

Runoff

Total

7,968.0

788.6

8,756.6

8,457.8

2,061.0

10,518.8

8,777.5

1,770.5

10,548.0

9,058.1

1,783.8

10,841.9

9,840.1

1,733.2

11,573.3

8

In 2009, the Canadian Insurance float increased 18.0% (at a cost of 3.0%), primarily due to the strengthening of the
Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. The U.S. Insurance float decreased 1.7% (at a cost of 1.5%), primarily due to
a decrease in premiums written by Crum & Forster. The Asian Insurance float increased 82.4% (at no cost), primarily
due to an increase in premiums written at both Falcon and First Capital and the strengthening of the Singapore dollar
relative to the U.S. dollar. The Reinsurance float increased 8.7% (at no cost), primarily as a result of the acquisition of
Polish Re and the strengthening of the Canadian dollar (CRC (Bermuda)) and the euro (OdysseyRe’s EuroAsia
division) relative to the U.S. dollar. Excluding Polish Re, the Reinsurance float increased 7.3% (at no cost). The
Runoff float decreased 2.8%, primarily as a result of the continued progress in the reduction of Runoff claims. In the
aggregate, the total float increased by 6.7% to $11.6 billion at the end of 2009. Excluding Polish Re, the total float
increased by 6.1% to $11.5 billion at the end of 2009.

At the end of 2009, we have approximately $579 per share in insurance and reinsurance float. Together with our book
value of $370 per share and $115 per share in net debt, you have approximately $1,064 in investments per share
working for your long term benefit.

The table below shows the sources of our net earnings. This table, like various others in this letter, is set out in a format
which we have consistently used and we believe assists you in understanding Fairfax.

Underwriting
Insurance

– Canada (Northbridge)
– U.S. (Crum & Forster)
– Asia (Fairfax Asia)

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

– Other

Underwriting income (loss)
Interest and dividends

Operating income
Net gains on investments
Runoff
Other
Interest expense
Corporate overhead and other

Pre-tax income
Income taxes
Non-controlling interests

Net earnings

2009

2008

(57.1)
(32.0)
20.2

64.3
11.9

7.3
557.0

564.3
668.0
31.2
12.4
(166.3)
96.0

1,205.6
(214.9)
(133.9)

(37.9)
(177.2)
6.9

(27.7)
(45.0)

(280.9)
476.1

195.2
1,381.8
392.6
1.4
(158.6)
631.9

2,444.3
(755.6)
(214.9)

856.8

1,473.8

The table shows the results from our insurance and reinsurance (underwriting and interest and dividends), runoff
and non-insurance operations (Other shows the pre-tax income before interest of Ridley). Net gains on investments
other than at runoff and the holding company are shown separately to help you understand the composition of our
earnings. With an underwriting profit and significantly higher interest and dividend income, operating income in
2009 increased significantly to $564.3 million from $195.2 million in 2008. Runoff was profitable again for the third
year in a row, principally due to investment gains. Corporate overhead and other was a positive again for the third
year in a row because of substantial investment income and realized gains from our holding company investment
portfolio. Realized gains were very significant in 2009 but only approximately one-third of the extraordinary 2008
levels. Notwithstanding significantly higher underwriting profit, pre-tax income dropped to approximately half of
last year’s. This was made up by the increase in unrealized gains which flowed through shareholders’ equity.

Reserving

At the end of 2009, our reserves are in excellent shape. They are conservatively stated. Please note the accident year
triangles shown in the MD&A.

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Financial Position

Holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities,

net of short sale and derivative obligations

Holding company debt

Subsidiary debt

Other long term obligations – holding company

Total debt

Net debt

Common shareholders’ equity

Preferred equity

Non-controlling interests

Total equity and non-controlling interests

Net debt/total equity and non-controlling interests

Net debt/net total capital

Total debt/total capital

Interest coverage

December 31,

2009

2008

1,242.7

1,555.0

1,236.9

903.4

173.5

869.6

910.2

187.7

2,313.8

1,967.5

1,071.1

412.5

7,391.8

4,866.3

227.2

117.6

102.5

1,382.8

7,736.6

6,351.6

13.8%

12.2%

23.0%

8.2x

6.5%

6.1%

23.7%

16.4x

We ended 2009 in a very strong financial position. While we increased our holding company debt through the issue
of Cdn$400 million of 10-year bonds, our holding company cash and marketable securities continued to exceed 50%
of our total debt. Also, now that we own 100% of all three of our largest insurance and reinsurance companies, our
access to the free cash flow generated by these companies significantly increases the financial strength of our group.
Our debt/capital and debt/equity ratios continue to remain very strong.

Investments

The table below shows the time-weighted compound annual returns (including equity hedging) achieved by
Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel (Fairfax’s wholly-owned investment manager) on stocks and bonds managed
by it during the past 15 years for our companies, compared to the benchmark index in each case.

Common stocks (with equity hedging)

S&P 500

Bonds

Merrill Lynch U.S. corporate (1-10 year) index

5 Years

10 Years

15 Years

17.1%
0.4%
11.8%
4.5%

19.9%
(1.0)%
12.1%
6.4%

18.3%
8.0%
10.6%
6.8%

2009 was another excellent year for HWIC’s investment results. As mentioned last year, these results do not include
our huge net gain from credit default swaps (we really did not know where to classify this!). These results are due to
HWIC’s outstanding investment team led by Roger Lace, Brian Bradstreet, Chandran Ratnaswami, Sam Mitchell, Paul
Rivett, Frances Burke and Enza LaSelva.

10

For the last time, we include the table on our credit default swap positions and their disposition.

FY 2007

FY 2008

Q1 2009

Q2 2009

Q3 2009

Q4 2009

Notional
Amount

965.5

11,629.8

2,902.6

140.3

–

–

Original
Acquisition
Cost

25.7

245.8

45.5

1.4

–

–

Sale
Proceeds

199.3

2,048.7

223.0

8.6

–

–

Excess of Sale
Proceeds Over
Original
Acquisition
Cost

173.6

1,802.9

177.5

7.2

–

–

Cumulative sales since inception

15,638.2

318.4

2,479.6

2,161.2

Remaining credit default swap positions at December 31,

2009

5,926.2

114.8

71.6(1)

(43.2)(2)

Cumulative realized and unrealized from inception

21,564.4

433.2

2,551.2

2,118.0

(1) Market value as of December 31, 2009

(2) Unrealized loss (measured using original acquisition cost) as of December 31, 2009

In total, since inception we have sold $15.6 billion notional amount of credit default swaps, with an original
acquisition cost of $318 million, for cash proceeds of $2.5 billion and a cumulative gain (against original cost) of
$2.2 billion. As of December 31, 2009, the remaining $5.9 billion notional amount of credit default swaps had a
market value of $72 million against an original acquisition cost of $115 million, an unrealized loss of $43 million. If
the remaining credit default swaps all went to zero, our shareholders’ capital would be reduced by $72 million pre-
tax. Our adventure with credit default swaps is over – but we will remember it as of one of the more significant events
in our history!

While we have had great investment success in the last two years, our net gains include the absorption of some major
other than temporary impairment charges, mark-to-market losses and realized losses over these two years, as follows:

Other than temporary impairments (“OTTI”)

Mark-to-market losses

Realized losses

2008/2009

1,351.8

704.2

306.0

Included in OTTI are Level 3 ($226 million), Torstar ($175 million), Canwest ($121 million), Frontier Communi-
cations ($84 million), Dell ($65 million), U.S. Gypsum ($61 million), Brick Group ($40 million) and SFK Pulp
($31 million). Included in the mark-to-market losses are Abitibi ($336 million), California state bonds ($67 million)
and Mega Brands ($37 million). While Canwest is a permanent loss, the game is far from over on the other
impairments and mark-to-market losses. However, our balance sheet is very sound as we have written down these
investments to market value.

As we have mentioned to you previously, as long term investors we expect to make a return over the long term (at
least 3 to 5 years) as opposed to the short term. Accounting rules reflect the short term fluctuations in stock prices
through OTTI and mark-to-market charges. We are not fazed by unrealized losses on investments whose intrinsic
value we think is higher. Our key focus is not on earnings but on growing book value over the long term at a rate of
15% per annum. As you know, we prefer a lumpy 15% to a smooth 12%.

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The financial crisis has also provided Fairfax with the opportunity to invest in some excellent Canadian companies,
usually by the purchase of convertible debentures, or debentures or preferred shares and warrants, as shown below.

H&R REIT

Canadian Western Bank

Mullen Group

GMP Capital

Cost at
purchase

190.8

57.2

56.0

12.0

As of December 31, 2009

Market value

366.7

94.9

99.3

31.1

Gain

175.9

37.7

43.3

19.1

Not long ago, Tom Hofstedter from H&R called to say he had the opportunity to refinance the bond and warrant issue
he did with us earlier in 2009. We obliged. Over the years, we have done many deals with Tom – all profitable. We
eagerly await his next call!

In going through our old annual reports, I came across a mention of GE in our 1997 annual report. It had a market
capitalization then of $241 billion, in excess of the combined valuations of the stock markets of Malaysia, Indonesia,
Thailand, the Philippines and South Korea. GE then was selling at 2.5 times revenues, 27.5 times earnings and
6.9 times book value. In contrast today, GE sells at 1.1 times revenues, 8.7 times normalized earnings, 1.4 times book
value and two-thirds the stock price it sold at in 1997. Today it is devoid of any expectations while in 1997 it was a
stock market darling. And they say the stock market is efficient! By the way, GE made money in 2008 and 2009. Full
disclosure: we own GE.

While the stock markets have rebounded significantly from March 9, 2009, we continue to have a cautious view on
the U.S. economy. The massive U.S. government stimulus programs (and government programs of other countries)
appear to be working in the short term, but the enormous deleveraging by business and individuals continues to
counter in varying degrees the positive effects of this stimulus. Our reading of history – the 1930s in the U.S. and
Japan since 1990 – shows in both periods nominal GNP remained flat for 10 to 20 years with many bouts of deflation.
While good companies with excellent management will continue to do well, this may be a particularly treacherous
time period. Of course, being long term value oriented investors, we expect this to be a great environment for us to ply
our trade – perhaps not unlike the 1975 to 1996 period.

In 2009, we had net gains on investments of $945 million, comprised of $938 million of gains from fixed income
securities, $461 million of gains from equities and equity related securities, OTTI charges of $340 million and losses of
$114 million on credit default swaps.

The principal contributors to realized gains from fixed income securities were mark-to-market gains on Muni bonds,
convertible securities and other fixed income securities ($571 million), Ford ($92 million, a gain of 63%) and Nortel
($85 million, a gain of 106%). The principal contributors to realized gains from equities and equity related securities
were H&R REIT warrants ($173 million), Intel ($58 million, a gain of 27%), Burlington Northern Santa Fe ($57 mil-
lion, a gain of 39%), Gannett ($42 million, a gain of 60%) and Alcoa ($34 million, a gain of 45%).

Our net unrealized gains (losses) by asset class at year end were as follows:

Bonds

Preferred stocks

Common stocks

Investments, at equity

2009

179.9

0.4

888.4

170.8

2008

123.5

(2.7)

(198.5)

356.0

1,239.5

278.3

12

Our common stock portfolio, which reflects our long term value oriented investment philosophy, is broken down by
country as follows (at market value).

United States

Canada

Other

2009

3,275.7

766.0

1,047.2

5,088.9

We have record amounts invested in the U.S. and Canada. Also we have record amounts invested in common stocks –
$5.1 billion or $255 per share. This will make our book value more volatile, but if we have chosen well, over the long
term these common stock investments should be a major reason for our success.

Miscellaneous

Given our results for 2009, our significant holding company cash and marketable securities position, the availability
to us of the free cash flow of our insurance companies now that our three largest companies are 100% owned, and our
very strong and conservative balance sheet, we paid a dividend of $10 per share (an extra $8 per share in excess of our
nominal $2 per share). It is unlikely that this rate will be maintained.

In 2009, Fairfax and its subsidiaries made $12 million in charitable donations, benefiting a variety of charities across
the countries we operate in. We were particularly gratified to be able to donate $1 million to rebuild a school in
Pengzhou, China with our partners in Alltrust. The school was damaged by the horrific earthquake in Sichwan
Province. We strongly believe in “doing good by doing well”. In OdysseyRe’s December issue of its newsletter The
Edge (on its website www.odysseyre.com), Andy Barnard gives you an excellent perspective of the range of
OdysseyRe’s charitable donations worldwide. As I said last year, in a free enterprise world, customers, employees,
shareholders and communities (and of course governments!) do benefit from the success of business.

Speaking of employees benefitting from the success of a business, we have had an employee share purchase plan since
1987 under which all contributions are used to purchase Fairfax shares in the market. In past annual reports, I have
extolled the virtues of this plan to you. Under the plan, our employees can contribute from each paycheque up to
10% of their salary. The company automatically contributes an additional 30% of the employee contribution and at
the end of each year, if Fairfax has achieved its 15% growth in book value per share objective, the company
contributes an additional 20% of the employee contribution. Over the last 5, 10, 15 and 20 years, the compound
annual return on this program has been 31%, 18%, 13% and 18% respectively. If an employee earning Cdn$40,000
had participated in this program since its inception, she or he would have accumulated 2,805 shares worth
Cdn$1.1 million at the end of 2009. We like our employees to be owners of the company and to benefit from its
long term success.

Late last year we decided to delist from the NYSE. We felt that this listing was not providing any net benefit to our long
term shareholders – for whom this company is run. We have raised money, when needed, without this listing and our
employees worldwide can buy our common shares through the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canadian or U.S. dollars.
As our financial reporting continues to be in U.S. dollars, our stock price in U.S. dollars is the most relevant stock price
to focus on – in the long term!! In 2009, in U.S. dollars, Fairfax’s stock price was up 25.4% versus only 5.1% in
Canadian dollars, as the Canadian dollar was very strong in 2009.

Early in 2010, we announced our agreement to acquire Zenith National Insurance for $38 per share. The acquisition
was unanimously approved by Zenith’s Board of Directors, and all of the directors and executives of Zenith have
agreed to vote their shares in favour of the acquisition. The acquisition is subject to approval by Zenith’s shareholders
and regulatory approval. We expect to finance the acquisition of Zenith with a combination of subsidiary dividends
and holding company cash, which was increased by the $200 million proceeds from issuing additional common
equity on February 26, 2010 at $355 per share. As we said earlier, because of our performance in the past two years, we
have significant excess capital in each of our insurance and reinsurance companies as our consolidated net premiums
written to capital is less than 0.5:1. We raised the $200 million in common equity at $355 per share from partners we
liked even though we did not like the price – because we wanted to ensure stable ratings. As stated earlier, ratings are
important to us and we are focused on raising our debt ratings to the A level over time. This means we will do what it

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

takes to maintain a very strong financial position so that our rating agencies will continue to upgrade us. After the
acquisition of Zenith, we will continue to have approximately $1 billion in cash and marketable securities at the
holding company.

Now as far as Zenith is concerned, most of you know that I have known Stanley Zax and Zenith for the past 20 years.
Stanley and Zenith have an outstanding long term underwriting track record spanning 30 years. Zenith has had an
average combined ratio of 95% over 30 years with conservative reserving – a record unparalleled in the commercial
lines industry. I would highly recommend that you read Stanley’s Chairman’s letter to shareholders in Zenith’s 2009
annual report. Zenith will be the highest quality company we have ever bought. We are able to pay a significant
premium for Zenith because it is of the highest quality and because our investment expertise will help us provide an
attractive return – over the long term, although certainly not in the short term. In the past, we purchased turnaround
situations. In 2000, we learned the virtues of acquiring high quality companies from the purchase of Seneca – a small,
extremely well run company led by Doug Libby, who now runs Crum & Forster. We are now focused on marrying our
investment expertise with high quality insurance companies with excellent underwriting track records. I cannot
think of any better example than Zenith and Stanley Zax. As with all our companies, Zenith will be run independen-
tly – as it is today – by Stanley and his management team, with investments centralized at Fairfax. We look forward to
concluding the acquisition and to warmly welcoming Stanley, his management team and all the employees of Zenith
to the Fairfax family.

The future is always uncertain, particularly in the short term. However, I continue to be very excited about the long
term prospects of our company because of the “fair and friendly” culture we have developed over almost 25 years
(that culture is embedded in our company through our Guiding Principles, again reproduced for you in Appen-
dix A) and because we have a wonderful, still small management team – men and women with great integrity, team
spirit and no egos. Working as a team, we look forward to building shareholder value for you in the decade ahead.

We will very much look forward to seeing you at our annual meeting in Toronto at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 22,
2010 at Roy Thomson Hall. Our Presidents, the Fairfax officers and the Hamblin Watsa principals will all be there to
answer any and all of your questions. Also, we will have available for your interest brochures and information on the
products offered by our operating companies. Perhaps also a hat!

I would like to thank the Board and the management and employees of all our companies for their outstanding efforts
during 2009. We would also like to thank you, our long term shareholders, who have supported us loyally for many,
many years. We look forward to continuing to build shareholder value for you over the long term.

March 5, 2010

V. Prem Watsa
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

14

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15

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements

The preparation and presentation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements, Management’s Discus-
sion and Analysis (“MD&A”) and all financial information are the responsibility of management and have been
approved by the Board of Directors.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted account-
ing principles. Financial statements, by nature, are not precise since they include certain amounts based upon
estimates and judgments. When alternative methods exist, management has chosen those it deems to be the most
appropriate in the circumstances.

We, as Fairfax’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have certified Fairfax’s annual disclosure
document filed with the SEC (Form 40-F) in accordance with the United States Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that management fulfills its responsibilities for financial reporting
and is ultimately responsible for reviewing and approving the consolidated financial statements. The Board carries
out this responsibility principally through its Audit Committee which is independent from management.

The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors and reviews the consolidated financial statements and
MD&A; considers the report of the external auditors; assesses the adequacy of the internal controls of the company,
including management’s assessment described below; examines the fees and expenses for audit services; and
recommends to the Board the independent auditors for appointment by the shareholders. The independent auditors
have full and free access to the Audit Committee and meet with it to discuss their audit work, Fairfax’s internal
control over financial reporting and financial reporting matters. The Audit Committee reports its findings to the
Board for consideration when approving the consolidated financial statements for issuance to the shareholders and
management’s assessment of the internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.

Management has assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of Decem-
ber 31, 2009 using criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this evaluation, management con-
cluded that the company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009.

The effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 has been
audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report
which appears herein.

March 5, 2010

V. Prem Watsa
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Greg Taylor
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

16

Independent Auditors’ Report

To the Shareholders of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited

We have completed integrated audits of the consolidated financial statements of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited
(the “Company”) as at December 31, 2009 and 2008 and for the three years ended December 31, 2009, and audit of its
internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2009. Our opinions, based on our audits, are presented
below.

Consolidated financial statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of the Company as at December 31, 2009 and 2008,
and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for
each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2009. 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 of the Company’s financial statements as at December 31, 2009 and 2008 and for each of the
years in the three year period ended December 31, 2009 in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing
standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards
require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are
free of material misstatement. An audit of financial statements includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. A financial statement audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the
financial position of the Company as at December 31, 2009 and 2008 and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2009 in accordance with Canadian generally
accepted accounting principles.

Internal control over financial reporting

We have also audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2009, based on
criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of
the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal
control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting,
included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting on page 16. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our
audit.

We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all
material respects. An audit of internal control over financial reporting includes obtaining an understanding of
internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the
design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other
procedures as we consider necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis
for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding
the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those
policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in
accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that
could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstate-
ments. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may
become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or
procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting
as at December 31, 2009 based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the COSO.

Chartered Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants
Toronto, Ontario

March 5, 2010

18

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, 2009 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
March 5, 2010

19

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheets
as at December 31, 2009 and 2008

Assets
Holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities (including assets

pledged for short sale and derivative obligations – $78.9; 2008 – $19.7)

Accounts receivable and other
Recoverable from reinsurers (including recoverables on paid losses – $255.1; 2008 – $298.9)

Portfolio investments
Subsidiary cash and short term investments (cost $3,230.6; 2008 – $5,492.3)
Bonds (cost $10,742.0; 2008 – $8,302.1)
Preferred stocks (cost $292.4; 2008 – $41.2)
Common stocks (cost $4,040.4; 2008 – $3,964.1)
Investments, at equity (fair value $646.2; 2008 – $575.3)
Derivatives and other invested assets (cost $122.5; 2008 – $157.3)
Assets pledged for short sale and derivative obligations (cost $149.2; 2008 – $8.3)

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

2009
(US$ millions)

2008

1,251.6
1,855.4
3,809.1

1,564.2
1,688.7
4,234.2

6,916.1

7,487.1

3,244.8
10,918.3
292.8
4,853.1
475.4
142.7
151.5

5,508.5
8,425.8
38.2
3,816.9
219.3
398.0
8.3

20,078.6

18,415.0

332.3
318.7
168.6
438.8
149.7

321.9
699.4
133.1
123.2
125.7

28,402.8

27,305.4

See accompanying notes.

Signed on behalf of the Board

Director

Director

20

Liabilities

Subsidiary indebtedness

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Income taxes payable

Short sale and derivative obligations (including at the holding company – $8.9; 2008 –

$9.2)

Funds withheld payable to reinsurers

Provision for claims

Unearned premiums

Long term debt – holding company borrowings

Long term debt – subsidiary company borrowings

Other long term obligations – holding company

Non-controlling interests

Contingencies (note 14)

Shareholders’ Equity

Common stock

Treasury stock, at cost

Preferred stock

Retained earnings

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

See accompanying notes.

2009
(US$ millions)

2008

12.1

21.1

1,202.2

1,326.5

70.9

656.3

57.2

354.9

29.4

355.1

1,697.3

2,388.4

14,747.1

14,728.4

1,920.1

1,890.6

1,236.9

891.3

173.5

869.6

889.1

187.7

18,968.9

18,565.4

117.6

1,382.8

3,058.6

2,124.9

(28.7)

227.2

(22.7)

102.5

3,468.8

2,871.9

893.1

(107.8)

7,619.0

4,968.8

28,402.8

27,305.4

21

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Consolidated Statements of Earnings
for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

Revenue

Gross premiums written

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned

Interest and dividends
Net gains on investments(1)

Other revenue

Expenses

Losses on claims(1)
Operating expenses(1)

Commissions, net

Interest expense

Other expenses

Earnings from operations before income taxes

Income taxes

Net earnings before non-controlling interests

Non-controlling interests

Net earnings

Net earnings per share

Net earnings per diluted share

Cash dividends paid per share

Shares outstanding (000) (weighted average)

2009

2008

2007

(US$ millions except
per share amounts)

5,094.0

5,061.4

5,214.5

4,286.1

4,332.2

4,498.4

4,422.0

4,529.1

4,648.8

712.7

944.5

556.4

626.4

761.0

2,570.7

1,665.9

99.4

434.5

6,635.6

7,825.6

7,510.2

3,186.9

3,559.1

3,160.7

831.7

701.1

166.3

544.0

835.8

729.8

158.6

98.0

817.8

760.3

209.5

401.5

5,430.0

5,381.3

5,349.8

1,205.6

2,444.3

2,160.4

214.9

755.6

711.1

990.7

1,688.7

1,449.3

(133.9)

(214.9)

(353.5)

856.8

1,473.8

1,095.8

$ 43.99

$ 80.38

$ 61.20

$ 43.75

$ 79.53

$ 58.38

$

8.00

$

5.00

$

2.75

18,301

18,037

17,700

(1) Reflects certain reclassifications of foreign exchange gains and losses in the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 as

described in note 2.

See accompanying notes.

22

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

Net earnings

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale securities(1)
Reclassification of net realized (gains) losses to net earnings(2)
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)(3)

Reclassification of foreign currency translation (gains) losses on disposition of

investee company

Change in gains and losses on hedges of net investment in foreign subsidiary(4)

2009

2008

2007

(US$ millions)

856.8

1,473.8

1,095.8

804.5

(548.0)

293.0

(37.9)

248.6

(95.4)

227.0

(186.6)

114.9

–

(25.5)

24.9

(7.2)

(13.7)

–

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes

968.1

(468.3)

298.8

Comprehensive income

1,824.9

1,005.5

1,394.6

(1) Net of income tax expense of $353.9 (2008 – income tax recovery of $213.4; 2007 – income tax expense of $142.2).

(2) Net of income tax recovery of $43.8 (2008 – income tax expense of $86.1; 2007 – income tax recovery of $35.3).

(3) Net of income tax recovery of $12.4 (2008 – income tax expense of $45.3; 2007 – income tax recovery of $7.6).

(4) Net of income tax recovery of $2.8 (2008 – $2.8; 2007 – nil).

See accompanying notes.

23

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

Common stock –
Subordinate voting shares – beginning of year
Issuances during the year
Issuances on conversion of convertible senior debentures
Purchases for cancellation

Subordinate voting shares – end of year
Multiple voting shares – beginning and end of year

Common stock

Other paid in capital – beginning of year
Conversion of convertible senior debentures

Other paid in capital – end of year

Treasury shares (at cost) – beginning of year
Net acquisitions

Treasury shares (at cost) – end of year

Preferred stock –
Series A – beginning of year
Purchases for cancellation

Series A – end of year

Series B – beginning of year
Purchases for cancellation

Series B – end of year

Series C – beginning of year
Issuances during the year

Series C – end of year

Preferred stock

Retained earnings – beginning of year
Transition adjustment – financial instruments
Net earnings for the year
Excess over stated value of common shares purchased for cancellation
Excess over stated value of preferred shares purchased for cancellation
Common share dividends
Preferred share dividends

Retained earnings – end of year

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) – beginning of year
Application of the equity method of accounting
Transition adjustment – financial instruments
Other comprehensive income (loss)

2009

2008

2007

(US$ millions)

2,121.1
989.3
–
(55.6)

2,063.6
–
192.3
(134.8)

2,068.1
–
–
(4.5)

3,054.8
3.8

2,121.1
3.8

2,063.6
3.8

3,058.6

2,124.9

2,067.4

–
–

–

(22.7)
(6.0)

57.9
(57.9)

–

(22.6)
(0.1)

57.9
–

57.9

(18.3)
(4.3)

(28.7)

(22.7)

(22.6)

38.4
(38.4)

51.2
(12.8)

–

38.4

64.1
(64.1)

85.4
(21.3)

–

64.1

–
–

–

51.2
–

51.2

85.4
–

85.4

–
–

–

–
227.2

227.2

227.2

2,871.9
–
856.8
(67.3)
(41.3)
(140.8)
(10.5)

102.5

136.6

1,658.2
–
1,473.8
(147.2)
(13.9)
(88.9)
(10.1)

596.6
29.8
1,095.8
(2.5)
–
(49.0)
(12.5)

3,468.8

2,871.9

1,658.2

(107.8)
32.8
–
968.1

360.5
–
–
(468.3)

12.2
–
49.5
298.8

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) – end of year

893.1

(107.8)

360.5

Retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

4,361.9

2,764.1

2,018.7

Total shareholders’ equity

7,619.0

4,968.8

4,258.0

24

2009

2008

2007

Number of shares outstanding

Common stock –

Subordinate voting shares – beginning of year

16,738,055

16,918,020

16,981,970

Issuances during the year

Issuances on conversion of convertible senior debentures

Purchases for cancellation

Net treasury shares acquired

2,881,844

–

–

886,888

–

–

(360,100)

(1,066,601)

(19,699)

(252)

(38,600)

(25,350)

Subordinate voting shares – end of year

19,240,100

16,738,055

16,918,020

Multiple voting shares – beginning and end of year

1,548,000

1,548,000

1,548,000

Interest in shares held through ownership interest in shareholder –

beginning and end of year

(799,230)

(799,230)

(799,230)

Common stock effectively outstanding – end of year

19,988,870

17,486,825

17,666,790

Preferred stock –

Series A – beginning of year

Purchases for cancellation

Series A – end of year

Series B – beginning of year

Purchases for cancellation

Series B – end of year

Series C – beginning of year

Issuances during the year

Series C – end of year

See accompanying notes.

2,250,000

3,000,000

3,000,000

(2,250,000)

(750,000)

–

–

2,250,000

3,000,000

3,750,000

5,000,000

5,000,000

(3,750,000)

(1,250,000)

–

–

–

10,000,000

10,000,000

3,750,000

5,000,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

25

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

Operating activities

Earnings before non-controlling interests

Amortization of premises and equipment and intangible assets

Net bond discount amortization

(Earnings) losses on investments, at equity

Future income taxes

Net losses on significant commutations

Net (gains) losses on available for sale securities

Other net gains on investments

Changes in operating assets and liabilities (note 22)

2009

2008

2007

(US$ millions)

990.7

35.8

(29.5)

(23.3)

12.8

3.6

(111.2)

1,688.7

1,449.3

22.4

(3.9)

49.4

27.0

(17.6)

(7.7)

(342.9)

323.5

84.2

386.2

–

(95.5)

(833.3)

(2,956.9)

(1,570.4)

45.6

(1,072.8)

108.6

(764.8)

1,192.7

(353.4)

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

(719.2)

119.9

(244.8)

Investing activities

Net sales of assets and liabilities classified as held for trading

320.4

3,157.3

Net sales (purchases) of securities designated as held for trading

(2,657.0)

(3,814.6)

482.6

40.9

Available for sale securities – purchases

– sales

Net decrease (increase) in restricted cash and cash equivalents

Net sales (purchases) of investments, at equity

Net sales of other invested assets

(7,048.6)

(15,306.1)

(6,959.9)

10,363.0

16,443.9

4,001.8

38.9

(58.4)

–

196.3

(107.9)

(54.2)

381.3

–

7.6

Net purchases of premises and equipment and intangible assets

(49.1)

(23.7)

(18.0)

Proceeds on partial disposition of investee company

Sale (purchase) of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired

–

–

(1,643.6)

(11.0)

60.0

1.8

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

(734.4)

587.9

(2,109.8)

Financing activities

Subsidiary indebtedness

Issuances

Repayment

Long term debt – holding company

Issuances

Debt issuance costs

Repayment

Long term debt – subsidiary companies

Issuances

Debt issuance costs

Repayment

Other long term obligations – holding company – repayment

Net repurchases of subsidiary securities

26

8.2

(21.0)

362.0

(3.4)

(13.8)

–

–

(1.4)

(10.9)

(96.6)

–

6.9

(13.2)

(73.4)

–

–

–

(15.0)

(62.1)

(107.8)

3.3

–

330.0

(23.4)

(118.6)

(295.7)

(4.9)

(4.5)

(419.5)

(121.5)

Subordinate voting shares

Issuances

Issuance costs

Repurchases

Preferred shares

Issuances

Issuance costs

Repurchases

Purchase of shares for treasury

Common share dividends

Preferred share dividends

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

2009

2008

2007

(US$ millions)

1,000.0

(17.0)

–

–

–

–

(122.9)

(282.0)

(7.0)

232.3

(7.3)

(143.8)

(12.8)

(140.8)

(10.5)

(7.3)

–

–

(48.0)

(0.2)

(88.9)

(10.1)

(25.6)

–

–

–

(4.4)

(49.0)

(12.5)

(27.3)

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

993.0

(1,069.8)

(404.6)

Foreign currency translation

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of year

91.8

(224.8)

107.9

(368.8)

(586.8)

(2,651.3)

2,525.7

3,112.5

5,763.8

Cash and cash equivalents – end of year

2,156.9

2,525.7

3,112.5

Cash and cash equivalents are included in the consolidated balance sheet as follows:

Holding company cash and short term investments

Subsidiary cash and short term investments

Subsidiary cash and short term investments pledged for short sale and derivative

obligations

Subsidiary restricted cash and short term investments

Supplementary information

Interest paid

Taxes paid

See accompanying notes.

December 31,

2009

2008

(US$ millions)

2007

139.9

293.8

31.3

2,093.3

2,338.8

2,164.8

–

8.3

1,244.2

(76.3)

(115.2)

(327.8)

2,156.9

2,525.7

3,112.5

148.5

823.3

160.2

483.8

184.3

266.2

27

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007
(in US$ and $millions except per share amounts and as otherwise indicated)

1. Business Operations

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“the company” or “Fairfax”) is a financial services holding company which,
through its subsidiaries, is principally engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and the associated
investment management.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting
principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods covered by the financial
statements. The principal financial statement components subject to measurement uncertainty include other than
temporary declines in the value of investments (note 3), goodwill and intangible assets (note 5), the provision for
claims (note 6), the allowance for unrecoverable reinsurance (note 8) and contingencies (note 14). Actual results may
differ from the estimates used in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the company and all of its subsidiaries at December 31,
2009:

Canadian Insurance

Reinsurance

Northbridge Financial Corporation

(Northbridge)

U.S. Insurance

Crum & Forster Holdings Corp.

(Crum & Forster)

Asian Insurance

Fairfax Asia consists of:

Falcon Insurance Company Limited (Falcon)

First Capital Insurance Limited (First Capital)

ICICI Lombard General Insurance

Company Limited (26% equity accounted interest)
(ICICI Lombard)

Other

Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd.

(Hamblin Watsa) (investment management)

Ridley Inc. (Ridley) (animal nutrition)

Odyssey Re Holdings Corp. (OdysseyRe)

Advent Capital (Holdings) PLC (Advent)

Polskie Towarzystwo Reasekuracji Spólka Akcyjna

(Polish Re)

Group Re, which underwrites business in:

CRC (Bermuda) Reinsurance Limited (CRC (Bermuda))

Wentworth Insurance Company Ltd. (Wentworth)

Runoff

TIG Insurance Company (TIG)

Fairmont Specialty Group (Fairmont)

RiverStone Insurance (UK) Limited (RiverStone (UK))

RiverStone Managing Agency

Syndicate 3500

nSpire Re Limited (nSpire Re)

All subsidiaries are wholly-owned except for Ridley with a 71.0% interest (2008 – 67.9%; 2007 – nil). During 2009, the
company increased its ownership interest to 100% in each of OdysseyRe (2008 – 70.4%; 2007 – 61.0%), Northbridge
(2008 – 63.6%; 2007 – 60.2%) and Advent (2008 – 66.6%; 2007 – 44.5%) pursuant to the privatization transactions as
described in note 18.

28

Investments which were recorded on the equity basis of accounting at December 31, 2009 and the company’s
ownership interests for those investments in prior years were as follows:

Cunningham Lindsey Group Limited (“CLGL”)
ICICI Lombard
Falcon Insurance PLC (“Falcon Thailand”)
International Coal Group, Inc. (“ICG”)
Singapore Reinsurance Corporation Limited (“Singapore Re”)
The Brick Group Income Fund (“The Brick”)
Polskie Towarzystwo Ubezpieczen S.A. (“PTU”)

2007

2009
2008
43.6% 45.7% 44.6%
26.0% 26.0% 26.0%
40.5% 24.9% 24.9%
27.7% 19.7% 13.8%
6.1%
8.7%
20.0%
12.8% 13.0% 10.4%
–
22.7%

–

During 2009, the company changed its accounting treatment of its investment in The Brick, Singapore Re and ICG
from available for sale to the equity method of accounting on a prospective basis as described below. The company
consolidated its 100% interest (2008 and 2007 – 100%) in the Cunningham Lindsey Group Inc. holding company
(“CLGI”) until its sole asset being a 43.6% (2008 – 45.7%; 2007 – 44.6%) interest in CLGL was distributed upon
liquidation into the ultimate parent company.

Investments
Financial assets are classified as held for trading, available for sale, held to maturity or loans and receivables. Financial
liabilities are classified as held for trading or as other financial liabilities. Derivatives are classified as held for trading.
The company’s management determines the appropriate classifications of investments in fixed income and equity
securities at their acquisition date.

Held for trading – Held for trading financial assets and liabilities are purchased or incurred with the intention of
generating profits in the near term (“classified as held for trading”) or are voluntarily so designated by the company
(“designated as held for trading”). On initial recognition, the company generally designates financial instruments
with embedded derivatives and has designated certain state and municipal bonds, as held for trading under the fair
value option. Financial liabilities classified as held for trading comprise obligations related to securities sold but not
yet purchased. Financial assets and liabilities and derivatives classified or designated as held for trading are carried at
fair value in the consolidated balance sheet with realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded in net gains (losses)
on investments in the consolidated statement of earnings and as an operating activity in the consolidated statement
of cash flows. Dividends and interest earned net of interest incurred are included in the consolidated statement of
earnings in interest and dividends and as an operating activity in the consolidated statement of cash flows except for
interest income from mortgage backed securities. Interest from mortgage backed securities is included in net gains
(losses) on investments in the consolidated statement of earnings as these securities were acquired in a distressed
market and as an operating activity in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

Available for sale – Non-derivative financial assets are classified or designated as available for sale when they are
intended to be held for long term profitability and are other than those classified as loans and receivables, held to
maturity or held for trading. Except for equity securities that do not have quoted market values in an active market,
which are carried at cost, these assets are carried at fair value with changes in unrealized gains and losses, including
the foreign exchange component thereof, recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) (net of tax) until realized or
impaired, at which time the cumulative gain or loss is reclassified to net gains (losses) on investments in the
consolidated statement of earnings and as an operating activity in the consolidated statement of cash flows. The
amount of gains or losses on securities reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net
earnings is determined based on average cost. Interest and dividend income from available for sale securities,
including amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts calculated using the effective interest method, are
recorded in the consolidated statement of earnings in interest and dividends and as an operating activity in the
consolidated statement of cash flows.

Held to maturity – Non-derivative financial assets that have a fixed maturity date, other than loans and receiv-
ables, for which the company has the intent and ability to hold to maturity or redemption are classified as held to
maturity and reported at amortized cost. The company has not designated any financial assets as held to maturity.

29

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Other than temporary impairments – At each reporting date, and more frequently when conditions warrant,
management evaluates all available for sale securities with unrealized losses to determine whether those unrealized
losses are other than temporary and should be recognized in net earnings (loss) rather than accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss). This determination is based on consideration of several factors including: (i) the length
of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than its amortized cost; (ii) the severity of the impairment;
(iii) the cause of the impairment and the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer; and (iv) the
company’s intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated
recovery of fair value. If management’s assessment indicates that the impairment in value is other than temporary, or
the company does not have the intent or ability to hold the security until its fair value recovers, the security is written
down to its fair value at the balance sheet date, and a loss is recognized in net gains (losses) on investments in the
consolidated statement of earnings. For debt instruments classified as available for sale, subsequent reversals of
impairment losses are required when, in a subsequent reporting period, the fair value of the instrument increases and
the increase can be objectively related to an event occurring after the loss was recognized.

Pricing – For traded securities, which comprise the majority of the company’s investment portfolio, quoted market
value based on bid prices is considered to be fair value except for securities sold but not yet purchased which are
recorded at ask price. For securities where market quotes are unavailable, the company uses estimation techniques to
determine fair value including discounted cash flows, internal models that utilize observable market data to the
extent possible or appropriate and comparisons with other securities that are substantially the same. The fair values
of third party managed investment funds are based on the net asset values as advised by the funds. Short term
investments comprise securities due to mature within one year from the date of purchase and are carried at fair value.

Recognition – The company accounts for the purchase and sale of securities using trade date accounting for
purposes of both the consolidated balance sheet and the consolidated statement of earnings. Transactions pending
settlement are reflected in the consolidated balance sheet in accounts receivable and other or in accounts payable and
accrued liabilities.

Transaction costs related to financial assets and liabilities classified or designated as held for trading are expensed as
incurred. Transaction costs related to available for sale financial assets and long term debt are capitalized to the cost of
the asset or netted against the liability on initial recognition and are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss)
or amortized in the consolidated statement of earnings, respectively.

Other – The equity method is used to account for investments in entities including corporations, limited partner-
ships and trusts in which the company is deemed to exercise significant influence. These investments are reported in
investments, at equity in the consolidated balance sheet, with the company’s share of earnings (losses) including
writedowns to reflect other than temporary impairment in the value of these investments reported in interest and
dividends. Gains and losses realized on dispositions of equity method investments are included in net gains (losses)
on investments. The company’s proportionate share of the other comprehensive income (loss) of its equity method
investments is recorded in the corresponding line in the company’s consolidated statement of comprehensive
income.

Derivative financial instruments
The company uses derivatives to mitigate financial risks arising principally from its investment holdings and
recoverables. Derivatives that are not specifically designated or that do not meet the requirements for hedge
accounting are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet with changes in fair value recorded in net
gains (losses) on investments in the consolidated statement of earnings and as an operating activity in the
consolidated statement of cash flows. All derivatives are monitored by the company for effectiveness in achieving
their risk management objectives. The determination of fair value for the company’s derivative financial instruments
where quoted market prices in active markets are unavailable is described in note 3. During 2009 and 2008, the
company did not designate any financial assets or liabilities (including derivatives) as accounting hedges except for
the net investment hedge as described in note 4.

Cash collateral received from or paid to counterparties as security for derivative contract assets or liabilities
respectively is included in liabilities or assets in the consolidated balance sheet. Securities received from counter-
parties as collateral are not recorded as assets. Securities delivered to counterparties as collateral continue to be
reflected as assets in the consolidated balance sheet as assets pledged for short sale and derivative obligations.

30

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of holding company and subsidiary cash and short term investments that are
readily convertible into cash and have maturities of three months or less when purchased and exclude cash and short
term investments that are restricted.

Loans and receivables and other financial liabilities
Loans and receivables and other financial liabilities are initially recognized at fair value and subsequently measured
at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. For loans and receivables, when there is no longer
reasonable assurance of timely collection, an impairment loss is recognized in consolidated net earnings to reflect the
difference between the carrying amount and the estimated realizable amount. The estimated realizable amount is the
present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the original effective interest rate.

Insurance contracts
Revenue recognition – Premiums written are deferred as unearned premiums and recognized as revenue, net of
premiums ceded, on a pro rata basis over the terms of the underlying policies. Net premiums earned are reported gross
of premium taxes which are included in operating expenses. Certain reinsurance premiums are estimated at the
individual contract level, based on historical patterns and experience from the ceding companies for contracts where
reports from ceding companies for the period are not contractually due until after the balance sheet date. The cost of
reinsurance purchased by the company (premiums ceded) is included in recoverable from reinsurers and is amortized
over the contract period in proportion to the amount of insurance protection provided.

Provision for claims – Provisions for claims represent estimated claim and claim settlement costs of property and
casualty insurance and reinsurance contracts with respect to losses that have occurred as of the balance sheet date.
The provisions for loss and loss adjustment expenses are recorded at the estimated ultimate payment amounts,
except that amounts arising from certain workers’ compensation business are discounted as discussed below. For
insurance business, the provisions for claims are established by the case method as claims are reported. For
reinsurance business, 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 becomes known and any
resulting adjustments are included in the consolidated statement of earnings in the period the adjustment is made. A
provision is also made for management’s calculation of factors affecting the future development of claims including
claims incurred but not reported (IBNR). The company utilizes generally accepted actuarial methodologies to
determine provisions for claims on the basis of historical experience and the volume of business currently in force.
Provisions for claims are reported in the consolidated statement of earnings after deducting amounts recoverable
under reinsurance contracts.

The estimated liabilities for workers’ compensation claims that are determined to be fixed or determinable are carried
in the consolidated balance sheet at discounted amounts. The company uses tabular reserving for such liabilities with
standard mortality assumptions, and discounts such reserves using interest rates of 3.5% to 5.0%. The periodic
discount accretion is included in the consolidated statement of earnings as a component of losses on claims.

Reinsurance – The company presents third party reinsurance balances in the consolidated balance sheet on a gross
basis to indicate the extent of credit risk related to third party reinsurance and its obligations to policyholders. Net
premiums earned and losses on claims are recorded in the consolidated statement of earnings net of amounts ceded
to, and recoverable from, reinsurers. Unearned premiums are reported before reduction for business ceded to
reinsurers and the reinsurers’ portion is classified with recoverable from reinsurers in the consolidated balance
sheet along with the estimates of the reinsurers’ shares of provision for claims determined on a basis consistent with
the related claims liabilities. Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the ceding company of its obligations to policy-
holders with respect to the underlying insurance and reinsurance contracts.

In order to control the company’s exposure to loss from adverse development of reserves or reinsurance recoverables
on pre-acquisition reserves of companies acquired or from future adverse development on long tail latent or other
potentially volatile claims, and to protect capital, the company has for certain acquisitions obtained vendor
indemnities or purchased excess of loss reinsurance protection from reinsurers. For excess of loss reinsurance treaties
(other than vendor indemnities), the company generally pays the reinsurer a premium as losses from adverse
development are ceded under the treaty. The company records the premium charge (earned premiums ceded to
reinsurers), commissions earned on ceded reinsurance premiums and the related reinsurance recovery (claims

31

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

incurred ceded to reinsurers) in its consolidated statement of earnings in the period in which the adverse devel-
opment is incurred and ceded to the reinsurer.

The company’s credit risk on reinsurance recoverables is analyzed by its reinsurance security department which is
responsible for setting appropriate provisions for reinsurers suffering financial difficulties. The provision for uncol-
lectible reinsurance balances represents management’s estimate of specific credit-related losses, provisions for
disputed and litigated balances, as well as losses that have been incurred but are not yet identifiable by individual
reinsurer. The process for determining the provision involves quantitative and qualitative assessments using current
and historical credit information and current market information. The process inherently requires the use of certain
assumptions and judgements including: (i) assessing the probability of impairment; (ii) estimating ultimate recovery
rates of impaired reinsurers; and (iii) determining the effects from potential offsets or collateral arrangements.
Changes to these assumptions or using other reasonable judgements can materially affect the provision level and the
company’s net earnings.

Provisions for uncollectible reinsurance are recorded in the consolidated statement of earnings in the period in which
the company determines that it is unlikely that the full amount or disputed amounts due from reinsurers are not
collectible. When the probability of collection is remote either through liquidation of the reinsurer or settlement of
the reinsurance balance, the uncollectible balance is written off from the provision account against the reinsurance
balance.

Deferred premium acquisition costs – Certain costs of acquiring insurance premiums, consisting of brokers’
commissions and premium taxes are deferred and charged to income as the related premiums are earned. Deferred
acquisition costs are limited to their estimated realizable value based on the related unearned premium, which
considers anticipated losses and loss adjustment expenses and estimated remaining costs of servicing the business
based on historical experience. The ultimate recoverability of deferred premium acquisition costs is determined
without regard to investment income.

Business combinations, goodwill and other intangible assets
All business combinations are accounted for using the purchase method whereby the results of acquired companies
are included only from the date of acquisition and divestitures are included up to the date of disposal. Identifiable
intangible assets are recognized separately from goodwill and are included in goodwill and intangibles assets in the
consolidated balance sheet.

Goodwill represents the excess of the price paid for the business acquired over the fair value of the net identifiable
assets acquired, and is assigned to the operating units of a reporting segment which is defined as the level of reporting
at which goodwill is tested for impairment. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually or more often if events or
circumstances indicate there may be an impairment. If the carrying value of a reporting segment, including the
allocated goodwill, exceeds its fair value, the amount of the goodwill impairment is measured as the excess of the
carrying amount of the reporting segment’s allocated goodwill over the implied fair value of the goodwill, based on
the fair value of the assets and liabilities of the reporting segment. Any goodwill impairment is charged to the
consolidated statement of earnings in the period in which the impairment is identified. The estimate of fair value
required for the impairment test is sensitive to the cash flow projections and the discount rate used in the valuation.

Intangible assets subject to amortization are amortized on the straight line basis over their estimated useful lives
comprised of periods ranging from 8 to 20 years. All indefinite lived intangible assets are assessed for impairment at
least annually and when an event or change in circumstances indicates that the assets might be impaired.

Income taxes
Future income taxes are calculated under the liability method. Future income taxes assets and liabilities are based on
differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities at the current substantively enacted
tax rates. Changes in future income taxes assets and liabilities that are associated with components of other
comprehensive income (loss) (primarily unrealized investment gains and losses) are charged or credited directly
to other comprehensive income (loss). Otherwise, changes in future income taxes assets and liabilities are included in
the provision for income taxes. All changes in future income taxes assets and liabilities attributable to changes in
substantively enacted tax rates and changes in valuation allowances are charged or credited to provision for income
tax expense in the period of enactment. A valuation allowance is established if it is more likely than not, all or some
portion of, the benefits related to a future income taxes asset will not be realized.

32

Pensions
For defined benefit pension and other post retirement benefit plans, the benefit obligations, net of the fair value of
plan assets adjusted for unrecognized items consisting of prior service costs, transitional assets and obligations and
net actuarial gains and losses are accrued in the consolidated balance sheet. For each plan, the company has adopted
the following policies:

(i)

Actuarial valuations of benefit liabilities for pension and post retirement benefit plans are performed as at
December 31 of each year for all benefit plans using the projected benefit method prorated on service, based
on management’s assumptions on the discount rate, rate of compensation increase, retirement age,
mortality and the trend in the health care cost rate. The discount rate is determined by management
with reference to market conditions at year end. Other assumptions are determined with reference to long-
term expectations.

(ii)

Expected return on plan assets is calculated based on the fair value of those assets.

(iii) Actuarial gains (losses) arise from the difference between the actual long term rate of return and the
expected long term rate of return on plan assets for that period or from changes in actuarial assumptions
used to determine the benefit obligation. Only gains or losses in excess of 10% of the greater of the benefit
obligations or the fair value of plan assets are amortized over the average remaining service period of active
employees.

(iv) Prior service costs arising from plan amendments are amortized on the straight line basis over the average

remaining service period of employees active at the date of amendment.

(v) When a restructuring of a benefit plan gives rise to both a curtailment and a settlement of obligations, the

curtailment is accounted for prior to the settlement.

Translation of foreign currencies
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency of the company and its subsidiaries using
the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the
settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities
are recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings except for unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses
arising on monetary investments classified as available for sale. These unrealized gains and losses are recorded in
other comprehensive income (loss) until realized, at which time the cumulative gain or loss is reclassified to net gains
(losses) on investments in the consolidated statement of earnings.

Unrealized gains or losses arising as a result of the translation of the company’s foreign self-sustaining operations
along with the effective portion of any hedges are reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) on
an after-tax basis. Upon disposal or reduction of an interest in such investments, related accumulated net translation
gains or losses are included in the consolidated statement of earnings.

Net investment hedge
In a net investment hedging relationship, the gains and losses relating to the hedged portion of the underlying asset
or liability (the effective portion of the hedge) are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). The gains and
losses relating to the ineffective portion of the hedge are recorded in net gains (losses) on investments in the
consolidated statements of net earnings. In the case of a hedged net investment in foreign operations, gains and
losses previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are recognized in net earnings when
the hedged net investment in foreign operations is reduced.

Comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net earnings and other comprehensive income (loss) and includes all
changes in equity during a period, except for those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to
owners. Unrealized gains and losses on financial assets classified as available for sale, unrealized foreign currency
translation amounts arising from self-sustaining foreign operations, and changes in the fair value of the effective
portion of cash flow hedging instruments on hedges of net investments in self-sustaining foreign operations are
recorded in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income and included in accumulated other comprehen-
sive income (loss) until recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings. Accumulated other comprehensive

33

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

income (net of income taxes) is included on the consolidated balance sheet as a separate component of shareholders’
equity.

Animal nutrition products
Revenues from the sale of animal nutrition products are recognized when the price is fixed or determinable,
collection is reasonably assured and the product has been shipped to the customer from the plant or facility. These
revenues and the related cost of inventories sold are recorded in Other revenue and Other expenses respectively, in
the consolidated statement of earnings.

Inventories of $49.8 (2008 – $58.5) are included in Other assets in the consolidated balance sheet and are measured at
the lower of cost or net realizable value on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventories are written down to net realizable
value when the cost of inventories is estimated to be greater than the anticipated selling price.

Non-controlling interest
Non-controlling interest includes $69.1 (2008 – $86.3) of non-cumulative Series A and Series B preferred shares issued
by OdysseyRe which pay dividends at a rate of 8.125% per annum on Series A preferred shares and at a floating rate on
Series B preferred shares. Each Series A and Series B preferred share has a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share.

Comparative figures
Certain prior year comparative figures have been reclassified to be consistent with the current year’s presentation.

Change in Presentation of Foreign Currency Gains (Losses) – The company reclassified realized and unre-
alized foreign currency gains and losses in its consolidated statements of earnings to enhance the transparency of its
financial reporting by removing distortions to underwriting results caused by volatility in foreign currency rates and
by giving recognition to the economic hedging relationship that exists between claims liabilities and portfolio
investments denominated in foreign currencies within the same operating company. Prior year comparative figures
have been reclassified to be consistent with the current year’s presentation, resulting in the reclassification in 2008 of
$161.8 of net realized and unrealized foreign currency losses (2007 – $28.7 of net realized and unrealized gains) and
$12.0 of net realized and unrealized foreign currency gains (2007 – $2.2 of net realized and unrealized losses) from
losses on claims and operating expenses respectively to net gains on investments. The pre-tax foreign currency effect
on certain line items in the company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31 were
as follows:

Net gains (losses) on investments:

Underwriting activities
Investing activities

Foreign currency gains (losses) included in pre-tax net earnings
Other comprehensive income:

Investing activities foreign currency gains (losses)

2009

2008

2007

14.3
(31.9)

(17.6)

(39.3)

(56.9)

(147.9)
102.5

26.4
111.1

(45.4)

137.5

41.6

(45.2)

(3.8)

92.3

Application of the Equity Method of Accounting
The company began acquiring common shares of Singapore Reinsurance Corporation Limited (“Singapore Re”) in
1999 and until December 24, 2009 accounted for its investment in 17.5% of the common shares of Singapore Re as
available for sale at fair value. On December 24, 2009, the company increased its interest in Singapore Re to 20.0%
and determined that it had obtained significant influence and, accordingly, the company changed the accounting
treatment of its investment in Singapore Re from available for sale to the equity method of accounting on a
prospective basis.

The company began acquiring units of The Brick Group Income Fund (“The Brick”) in 2006 and until November 27,
2009 accounted for its 12.8% interest in The Brick as available for sale at fair value. The company determined that its
12.8% interest, combined with certain other events occurring during the fourth quarter of 2009, effectively resulted
in the company being deemed to exercise significant influence over The Brick. Accordingly, on November 28, 2009,
the company changed the accounting treatment of its investment in The Brick from available for sale to the equity

34

method of accounting on a prospective basis. Factors considered by the company in making this determination
included: (1) a potential fully diluted voting interest of 29.1% as the result of ownership of 45.3 million warrants,
each of which entitle the company to purchase one unit of The Brick at a discount to the average trading price of
those units during the fourth quarter of 2009; (2) the expiration of a standstill agreement on November 28, 2009
which precluded the company from exercising warrants, acquiring additional units or seeking to influence man-
agement; and (3) the appointment of an individual related to the company to the board of directors of The Brick, in
addition to one board member already representing Fairfax by virtue of its 12.8% interest.

The company began acquiring common shares of International Coal Group, Inc. (“ICG”) in 2006 and until
December 31, 2008 accounted for its investment in 19.7% of the common shares of ICG as available for sale at
fair value. During the first quarter of 2009, the company increased its interest in ICG to 23.8%. Accordingly, on
February 20, 2009, the company changed the accounting treatment of its investment in ICG from available for sale to
the equity method of accounting on a prospective basis. During the fourth quarter of 2009, the company further
increased its interest in ICG to 27.7%.

The impact on the consolidated balance sheet at the date of the application of the equity method of accounting to the
investments described in the preceding paragraphs was as follows:

Date equity method commenced:
Portfolio investments:

Investments, at equity
Common stocks
Future income taxes
Non-controlling interests
Accumulated other comprehensive

income (loss)

Singapore Re

The Brick

ICG

Total

December 24, 2009 November 28, 2009 February 20, 2009

19.6
(22.8)
1.0
(1.2)

(1.0)

4.2
(8.7)
1.4
–

(3.1)

119.3
(55.5)
(21.0)
5.9

143.1
(87.0)
(18.6)
4.7

36.9

32.8

Change in accounting policies
Current year
Financial Instruments
Effective October 1, 2009, the company adopted the amendments made to Canadian Institute of Chartered
Accountants (“CICA”) Handbook Section 3862, Financial Instruments – Disclosures, which required enhanced
disclosures on liquidity risk of financial instruments and new disclosures on fair value measurements of financial
instruments. The new disclosures required by these amendments have been included in these annual consolidated
financial statements. Since these amendments relate to disclosure only, there is no impact on the company’s
financial position as at December 31, 2009 or its results of operations for the year then ended.

Effective October 1, 2009, the company adopted the amendments made to CICA Handbook Section 3855, Financial
Instruments – Recognition and Measurement, which required certain amendments to Canadian GAAP to achieve
consistency with international standards on impairment of debt securities. The amendments include changing the
categories into which debt instruments are required and permitted to be classified and eliminating the distinction
between debt securities and other debt instruments. As a result, debt instruments not quoted in an active market may
be classified as loans and receivables and subsequently assessed for impairment using the incurred credit loss model.
The incurred credit loss model requires recognition of an impairment loss equal to the difference between the
carrying amount and the estimated realizable amount when there is no longer reasonable assurance of timely
collection of future cash flows. The estimated realizable amount is the present value of the expected future cash flows
discounted at the original effective interest rate. The amendments also require the reversal of an impairment loss
related to an available for sale debt instrument in the instance when, in a subsequent period, the fair value of the
instrument increases and the increase can be objectively related to an event occurring after the loss was recognized.
The adoption of these amendments was applied retroactively to January 1, 2009 and did not have an impact on the
company’s financial position as at December 31, 2009 or its results of operations for the year then ended.

Effective July 1, 2009, the company adopted the amendment made to CICA Handbook Section 3855, Financial
Instruments – Recognition and Measurement, concerning the assessment of embedded derivatives upon reclassifi-
cations occurring after July 1, 2009 of financial assets out of the held for trading category. No such reclassifications
have been effected by the company.

35

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

In June 2009, the company adopted the amendment made to CICA Handbook Section 3855, Financial Instruments –
Recognition and Measurement, which clarified the application of the effective interest method to a financial asset
subsequent to the recognition of an impairment loss. The adoption of this amendment did not have an impact on the
company’s financial position as at December 31, 2009 or its results of operations for the year then ended.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Effective January 1, 2009, the company adopted CICA Handbook Section 3064, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, which
replaced Section 3062, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Section 3450, Research and Development Costs.
Section 3064 establishes standards for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of goodwill and intangible assets. The
adoption of this guidance did not result in a change in the recognition of the company’s goodwill and intangible assets.

Credit Risk
Effective January 1, 2009, the company adopted the CICA Emerging Issues Committee Abstract EIC-173, Credit Risk
and the Fair Value of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“EIC-173”), which provides additional guidance on
how to measure financial assets and liabilities by taking into account the company’s own credit risk and the credit risk
of the counterparty. The adoption of EIC-173 did not have an impact on the company’s financial position as at
December 31, 2009 or its results of operations for the year then ended.

Prior year
In October 2008, amendments were made to CICA Handbook Section 3855, Financial Instruments – Recognition and
Measurement and Section 3862, Financial Instruments – Disclosure. These amendments permit companies to
reclassify certain investments in debt or equity securities from the classification that requires fair value changes
to be recognized immediately in net earnings to the available for sale classification; provided strict criteria are met.
No such reclassifications have been effected by the company.

Accounting pronouncements to be adopted in the future
Financial Instruments
In June 2009, the CICA amended CICA Handbook Section 3855, Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement
to clarify the conditions for determining when a prepayment option embedded in a debt host instrument is closely related
to the host for accounting purposes. The amendment is effective for the company’s 2011 interim and annual consolidated
financial statements. The company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment.

Business Combinations and Non-controlling Interests
In January 2009, the AcSB issued CICA Handbook Section 1582, Business Combinations (“Section 1582”), Section 1601,
Consolidated Financial Statements (“Section 1601”) and Section 1602, Non-Controlling Interests (“Section 1602”),
which replaces CICA Handbook Section 1581, Business Combinations (“Section 1581”) and Section 1600, Consolidated
Financial Statements. Section 1582 retains the fundamental requirements of Section 1581 to identify an acquirer and to
use the acquisition method of accounting for each business combination. This new standard requires: measurement of
share consideration issued at fair value at the acquisition date; recognition of contingent consideration at fair value at
the date of acquisition with subsequent changes in fair value generally reflected in net earnings; and the acquirer to
expense acquisition-related costs as incurred. A non-controlling interest may be measured at fair value or at the
proportionate share of identifiable net assets acquired. Under current Canadian GAAP, a non-controlling interest is
recorded at the proportionate share of the carrying value of the acquiree. Section 1602 provides guidance on the
treatment of a non-controlling interest after acquisition in a business combination. This new standard requires: a non-
controlling interest to be presented clearly in equity, but separately from the parent’s equity; the amount of consol-
idated net income attributable to the parent and to a non-controlling interest be clearly identified and presented on the
consolidated statement of earnings; and accounting for changes in ownership interests of a subsidiary that do not result
in a loss or acquisition of control as an equity transaction. Section 1601 carries forward existing guidance on aspects of
the preparation of consolidated financial statements subsequent to the acquisition date other than that pertaining to a
non-controlling interest. These three new sections apply to the company’s consolidated financial statements effective
January 1, 2011 with earlier adoption permitted. The company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting these new
sections on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”)
In February 2008, the AcSB confirmed that Canadian GAAP for publicly accountable enterprises will be converged
with IFRS effective in calendar year 2011. IFRS uses a conceptual framework similar to Canadian GAAP, but there are
significant differences in recognition, measurement and disclosures. The company will change over to IFRS for its

36

interim and annual financial statements beginning on January 1, 2011 and is currently evaluating the impact of
changing over to IFRS on its financial position and results of operations.

3. Cash and Investments

Cash and short term investments, marketable securities, portfolio investments and short sale and derivative
obligations by financial instrument classification are shown in the table below:

Holding company:
Cash and short term investments
Cash and short term investments pledged
for short sale and derivative obligations

Bonds
Preferred stocks
Common stocks
Derivatives

Short sale and derivative obligations

Portfolio investments:
Cash and short term investments
Bonds
Preferred stocks
Common stocks
Investments, at equity
Derivatives
Other invested assets

Assets pledged for short sale and

derivative obligations:

Cash and short term investments
Bonds

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Classified
as
held for
trading

Designated
as
held for
trading

Classified
as
available

for sale Other

Total
carrying
value

Classified
as
held for
trading

Designated
as
held for
trading

Classified
as
available

for sale Other

Total
carrying
value

115.4

227.5

28.5

371.4

275.4

–

521.1

24.4
34.7
–
234.1
–

321.7
–

321.7

347.7
4,290.1
31.7
4,762.7

24.5
–
–
–
97.5

237.4
(8.9)

228.5

30.0
368.5
64.8
1.7
–

692.5
–

692.5

2,093.3
–
–
–
–
127.7
–

803.8
6,628.2
261.1
90.4
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
–

78.9
403.2
64.8
235.8
97.5

18.4
–
–
–
82.8

– 1,251.6
(8.9)
–

376.6
(9.2)

– 1,242.7

367.4

–
216.6
–
–
–

216.6
–

216.6

–

–
–
–
–
–

796.5

19.7
228.8
12.1
424.3
82.8

– 1,564.2
(9.2)
–

– 1,555.0

1.3
12.2
12.1
424.3
–

971.0
–

971.0

2,814.5
3,962.5
38.2
3,736.2

– 3,244.8
– 10,918.3
292.8
–
– 4,853.1
475.4
127.7
15.0

2,338.8
–
–
–
–
372.7
–

355.2
4,463.3
–
80.7
–
–
–

– 475.4
–
–
15.0
–

– 5,508.5
– 8,425.8
38.2
–
– 3,816.9
219.3
372.7
25.3

– 219.3
–
–
25.3
–

2,221.0

7,783.5

9,432.2 490.4 19,927.1

2,711.5

4,899.2

10,551.4 244.6 18,406.7

–
–

–

4.6
84.1

88.7

–
62.8

62.8

–
–

–

4.6
146.9

151.5

8.3
–

8.3

–
–

–

–
–

–

–
–

–

8.3
–

8.3

Short sale and derivative obligations

2,221.0
(48.3)

7,872.2
–

9,495.0 490.4 20,078.6
(48.3)

–

–

2,719.8
(20.2)

4,899.2
–

10,551.4 244.6 18,415.0
(20.2)

–

–

2,172.7

7,872.2

9,495.0 490.4 20,030.3

2,699.6

4,899.2

10,551.4 244.6 18,394.8

Restricted cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2009 of $76.3 was comprised primarily of amounts required to
be maintained on deposit with various regulatory authorities to support the subsidiaries’ insurance and reinsurance
operations. Restricted cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2008 of $115.2 consisted primarily of cash and cash
equivalents pledged to the Society and Council of Lloyd’s (“Lloyd’s”) to support the underwriting capacity of
subsidiaries’ Lloyd’s syndicates. Cash and cash equivalents pledged to Lloyd’s at December 31, 2008 was substantially
replaced by debt securities at December 31, 2009. Restricted cash and cash equivalents are included in the consol-
idated balance sheets in holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities, or in subsidiary
cash and short term investments and assets pledged for short sale and derivative obligations in portfolio investments.

In addition to the amounts disclosed in note 14, the company’s subsidiaries have pledged cash and investments,
inclusive of trust funds and regulatory deposits, as security for their own obligations to pay claims or make premium
payments (these pledges are either direct or to support letters of credit). In order to write premium business in certain
jurisdictions (primarily U.S. states) the company’s subsidiaries must deposit funds with local insurance regulatory
authorities to provide security for future claims payments as ultimate protection for the policyholder. Additionally,
some of the company’s subsidiaries provide reinsurance to primary insurers, for which funds must be posted as
security for losses that have been incurred but not yet paid. These pledges are in the normal course of business and are
generally released when the payment obligation is fulfilled.

37

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The table that follows summarizes pledged assets by the nature of the pledge requirement:

Regulatory deposits
Security for reinsurance and other

December 31,

2009
1,424.9
794.3

2008
1,549.2
777.9

2,219.2

2,327.1

Available For Sale Securities
Gross unrealized gains and losses on investments classified as available for sale by type of issuer, including assets
pledged for short sale and derivative obligations, were as follows:

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Cost or
amortized
cost

Gross
unrealized
gains

Gross
unrealized
losses

Total
carrying
value

Cost or
amortized
cost

Gross
unrealized
gains

Gross
unrealized
losses

Total
carrying
value

Holding company:
Short term investments:(1)
Canadian government
U.S. treasury

Bonds:

U.S. treasury
U.S. states and municipalities
Corporate and other

Preferred stocks:
Canadian

Common stocks:

Canadian
U.S.
Other

Portfolio investments:
Short term investments:
Canadian government
U.S. treasury
Other government

Bonds:

Canadian government
U.S. treasury
U.S. states and municipalities
Other government
Corporate and other

Preferred stocks:
Canadian
U.S.
Other

Common stocks:

Canadian
U.S.
Other

Assets pledged for short sale and

derivative obligations:

Bonds:

Canadian government
U.S. treasury
Other government
Corporate and other

24.4
28.5

52.9

–
22.5
10.9

33.4

–

39.5
80.7
38.2

158.4

15.5
192.5
125.5

333.5

596.6
490.1
938.6
848.8
1,239.7

4,113.8

–
0.1
31.2

31.3

476.9
2,716.2
756.9

3,950.0

1.0
0.4
54.1
5.0

60.5

–
–

–

–
0.8
0.5

1.3

–

18.9
44.2
14.1

77.2

0.5
–
13.7

14.2

39.6
12.3
38.0
21.5
138.3

249.7

–
–
0.4

0.4

230.8
398.5
188.8

818.1

0.1
–
1.7
0.5

2.3

–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–

–
(1.5)
–

(1.5)

–
–
–

–

(0.1)
(41.4)
(3.3)
(27.6)
(1.0)

(73.4)

–
–
–

–

–
–
(5.4)

(5.4)

–
–
–
–

–

24.4
28.5

52.9

–
23.3
11.4

34.7

–

58.4
123.4
52.3

234.1

16.0
192.5
139.2

347.7

636.1
461.0
973.3
842.7
1,377.0

4,290.1

–
0.1
31.6

31.7

707.7
3,114.7
940.3

4,762.7

1.1
0.4
55.8
5.5

62.8

136.7
387.1

523.8

12.0
–
0.4

12.4

11.8

58.4
397.2
20.0

475.6

196.9
2,307.9
297.1

2,801.9

928.1
739.2
999.7
856.8
315.0

3,838.8

10.2
0.6
30.4

41.2

535.8
2,731.1
616.5

3,883.4

–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–

–
–
–

–

0.3

–
12.4
4.2

16.6

–
–
16.1

16.1

57.0
140.4
12.7
24.3
7.2

241.6

–
–
–

–

43.6
95.8
44.2

183.6

–
–
–
–

–

(1.4)
–

(1.4)

–
–
(0.2)

(0.2)

–

(11.1)
(56.8)
–

(67.9)

(0.1)
(3.4)
–

(3.5)

–
–
(32.7)
(66.6)
(18.6)

135.3
387.1

522.4

12.0
–
0.2

12.2

12.1

47.3
352.8
24.2

424.3

196.8
2,304.5
313.2

2,814.5

985.1
879.6
979.7
814.5
303.6

(117.9)

3,962.5

–
(0.5)
(2.5)

(3.0)

(66.4)
(250.9)
(13.5)

(330.8)

–
–
–
–

–

10.2
0.1
27.9

38.2

513.0
2,576.0
647.2

3,736.2

–
–
–
–

–

(1)

Includes $24.4 (2008 – $1.3) of short term investments included in assets pledged for short sale and derivative obligations.

38

The number of continuous months in which available for sale securities excluding short term investments had gross
unrealized losses is as follows:

December 31, 2009

Bonds:

Canadian government

U.S. treasury

U.S. states and municipalities

Other government

Corporate and other

Common stocks:

U.S.

Other

December 31, 2008

Bonds:

U.S. states and municipalities

Other government

Corporate and other

Preferred stocks:

U.S.

Other

Common stocks:

Canadian

U.S.

Other

613.9

(54.6)

Fair
value

11.9

196.1

115.9

61.4

129.1

514.4

23.6

75.9

99.5

Fair
value

541.1

327.1

127.7

995.9

0.1

27.9

28.0

(0.1)

(41.4)

(3.2)

(2.0)

(1.0)

(47.7)

(1.5)

(5.4)

(6.9)

(32.7)

(66.6)

(18.8)

(118.1)

(0.5)

(2.5)

(3.0)

303.3

1,214.6

284.3

(77.5)

(307.7)

(13.5)

1,802.2

(398.7)

2,826.1

(519.8)

Less than 12 Months

Greater than 12 Months

Gross
unrealized
losses

Number of
securities

Fair
value

Gross
unrealized
losses

Number of
securities

Fair
value

Total

Gross
unrealized
losses

Number of
securities

1

14

4

12

4

35

1

12

13

48

–

–

1.6

260.3

–

261.9

–

–

–

–

–

(0.1)

(25.6)

–

(25.7)

–

–

–

261.9

(25.7)

–

–

1

5

–

6

–

–

–

6

11.9

196.1

117.5

321.7

129.1

776.3

23.6

75.9

99.5

(0.1)

(41.4)

(3.3)

(27.6)

(1.0)

(73.4)

(1.5)

(5.4)

(6.9)

875.8

(80.3)

1

14

5

17

4

41

1

12

13

54

Less than 12 Months

Greater than 12 Months

Gross
unrealized
losses

Number of
securities

Fair
value

Gross
unrealized
losses

Number of
securities

Fair
value

Total

Gross
unrealized
losses

Number of
securities

30

8

8

46

2

4

6

5

13

20

38

90

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

541.1

327.1

127.7

995.9

0.1

27.9

28.0

(32.7)

(66.6)

(18.8)

(118.1)

(0.5)

(2.5)

(3.0)

303.3

1,214.6

284.3

(77.5)

(307.7)

(13.5)

1,802.2

(398.7)

2,826.1

(519.8)

30

8

8

46

2

4

6

5

13

20

38

90

At each reporting date, and more frequently when conditions warrant, management evaluates all available for sale
securities with unrealized losses to determine whether those unrealized losses are other than temporary and should
be recognized in net earnings (losses) rather than in other comprehensive income (loss). If management’s assessment
indicates that the impairment in value is other than temporary, or the company does not have the intent or ability to
hold the security until its fair value recovers, the security is written down to its fair value at the balance sheet date, and
a loss is recognized in net gains (losses) on investments in the consolidated statement of earnings. Net gains (losses)
on investments for 2009 include $340.0 (2008 – $1,011.8; 2007 – $109.0) of provisions for other than temporary
impairments. After such provisions, the unrealized losses on such securities at December 31, 2009 were $6.9 (2008 –
$398.7), nil (2008 – $3.0) and $73.4 (2008 – $118.1) with respect to common stocks, preferred stocks and bonds
respectively. The company had investments in six debt securities primarily other government debt securities
classified as available for sale which were in unrealized loss positions for a period greater than twelve months at

39

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

December 31, 2009. The unrealized loss of $25.7 on these securities at December 31, 2009 was primarily due to the
effect of fluctuations in foreign currency translation rates.

As of December 31, 2009, the company had investments in bonds in or near default (where the issuer has missed
payment of principal or interest or entered bankruptcy) with a fair value of $14.4 (2008 – $26.1).

Securities Classified or Designated as Held for Trading
The company classified U.S. state and municipal bonds of $996.6 (2008 – $979.7) which were purchased prior to
September 30, 2008 as available for sale. U.S. state and municipal bonds of $4,501.2 (2008 – $3,124.9) which were
acquired subsequent to September 30, 2008 have been designated as held for trading.

Common stocks designated as held for trading include investments in certain limited partnerships with a carrying
value of $92.1 (2008 – $80.7).

The consolidated balance sheet includes $825.7 (2008 – $499.5) of convertible bonds containing embedded deriv-
atives (sometimes referred to as hybrid financial instruments) which the company has designated as held for trading.

Fixed Income Maturity Profile
Bonds designated or classified as held for trading and classified as available for sale are summarized by the earliest
contractual maturity date in the table below. Actual maturities may differ from maturities shown below due to the
existence of call and put features. At December 31, 2009, securities containing call and put features represented
approximately $5,587.6 and $1,376.4, respectively (2008 – $4,358.2 and $950.1, respectively) of the total fair value of
bonds in the table below.

Due in 1 year or less
Due after 1 year through 5 years
Due after 5 years through 10 years
Due after 10 years

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Amortized
cost
779.5
2,445.5
5,412.7
2,476.9

Fair
value
726.3
2,199.3
6,039.4
2,503.4

Amortized
cost
804.7
2,048.0
5,099.5
943.6

Fair
value
825.7
1,567.0
5,235.4
1,026.5

11,114.6

11,468.4

8,895.8

8,654.6

Effective interest rate

5.8%

5.5%

The calculation of the effective interest rate of 5.8% (2008 – 5.5%) is on a pre-tax basis and does not give effect to the
favourable tax treatment which the company expects to receive with respect to its tax advantaged bond investments
of approximately $4.6 billion (2008 – $4.1 billion) included in U.S. states and municipalities.

Investments at Equity
The fair value and carrying value of investments, at equity were as follows:

Portfolio investments:
Investments, at equity

ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited
Cunningham Lindsey Group Limited
International Coal Group, Inc.
Singapore Reinsurance Corporation Limited
The Brick Group Income Fund
Partnerships, trusts and other

40

December 31,
2009

December 31,
2008

Fair
value

Carrying
value

Fair
value

Carrying
value

204.4
159.5
173.9
22.9
8.9
76.6

75.9
134.8
163.0
20.9
4.2
76.6

428.5
83.9
–
–
–
62.9

73.1
83.9
–
–
–
62.3

646.2

475.4

575.3

219.3

The company also has investments of $33.8 (2008 – nil) and $22.9 (2008 – nil) in debt instruments and warrants issued
by The Brick respectively. The debt instruments and the warrants are recorded in bonds and derivatives and other
invested assets in the consolidated balance sheet respectively. The company’s strategic investment of $66.4
(15.0% interest) in Alltrust Insurance Company of China Ltd. (“Alltrust”) is classified as an available for sale security
within portfolio investments as the company has determined that it does not exercise significant influence over
Alltrust.

The earnings (losses) from investments, at equity included in interest and dividends for the years ended December 31
were as follows:

ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited
Cunningham Lindsey Group Limited
International Coal Group, Inc.
Advent Capital (Holdings) PLC
Hub International Limited (“Hub”)
Partnerships, trusts and other

2009
(4.7)
4.8
11.2
–
–
12.0

2008
(4.7)
7.0
–
1.6
–
(53.3)

2007
7.4
–
–
(24.2)
9.2
15.3

23.3

(49.4)

7.7

Earnings from investments, at equity includes a provision of nil (2008 – nil; 2007 – $37.4) for other than temporary
impairments. In 2007, the other than temporary impairment of $37.4 related to the company’s investment in
Advent. Included in net gains on investments – other are dilution losses of $1.1 (2008 – nil; 2007 – $8.0) and dilution
gains of nil (2008 – nil; 2007 – $1.2), related to changes in the company’s proportional ownership in certain of its
consolidated and equity accounted investments.

On June 13, 2007, the company and its subsidiaries completed the sale of all of their 26.1% interest in Hub for cash
proceeds of $41.50 per share. The sale of 10.3 million Hub shares held by the company and its subsidiaries resulted in
cash proceeds of $428.5 and a net gain on investment before income taxes and non-controlling interests of $220.5.

Fair Value Disclosures
The company is responsible for determining the fair value of its investment portfolio by utilizing market driven fair
value measurements obtained from active markets where available, by considering other observable and unobserv-
able inputs, and by employing valuation techniques which make use of current market data. Considerable judgment
may be required in interpreting market data used to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, actual values
realized in future market transactions may differ from the estimates presented in these consolidated financial
statements. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on
the estimated fair value. The company uses a fair value hierarchy to categorize the inputs used in valuation
techniques to measure fair value. A description of the inputs used in the valuation of financial instruments at
December 31, 2009 is summarized as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical instrument – Inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices
for identical instruments exchanged in active markets. The fair value of the majority of the company’s common
stocks, equity call options (including in prior periods, the S&P 500 index based Standard & Poor’s Depositary
Receipts (“SPDRs”) short position) and positions in securities sold but not yet purchased are determined based on
quoted prices in active markets obtained from external pricing sources.

Level 2 – Significant other observable inputs – Inputs include directly or indirectly observable inputs other than
quoted prices included within Level 1. These inputs include quoted prices for similar instruments exchanged in
active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments exchanged in inactive markets; inputs other
than quoted prices that are observable for the instruments, such as interest rates and yield curves.

The company’s investments in government securities (including federal, state, provincial and municipal bonds),
corporate securities, private placements and infrequently traded securities are priced using publicly traded
over-the-counter prices or broker-dealer quotes. Market observable inputs such as benchmark yields, reported
trades, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads and bids are available for these investments.

The fair values of derivatives such as equity total return swaps, equity index total return swaps and S&P index call
options are based on broker-dealer quotes. The fair values of warrants are based on quoted market prices or
broker-dealer quotations where available. Otherwise, valuation techniques are employed to estimate the fair

41

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

value of warrants on the basis of pricing models that incorporate the quoted price, volatility and dividend yield
of the underlying security and the risk-free rate. To assess the reasonableness of pricing received from broker-
dealers, the company compares the fair values supplied by broker- dealers to industry accepted valuation models,
to observable inputs such as credit spreads and discount rates and to recent transaction prices for similar assets
where available.

The fair values of credit default swaps are based principally on third party broker-dealer quotes which are based
on market observable inputs with current market spreads being the primary observable input. In addition, the
company assesses the reasonableness of the fair values obtained from these providers by comparing these fair
values to values produced using individual issuer credit default swap yield curves, by referencing them to
movements in credit spreads and by comparing them to recent market transaction prices for similar credit
default swaps where available. The fair values of credit default swaps are subject to significant volatility arising
from the potential differences in the perceived risk of default of the underlying issuers, movements in credit
spreads and the length of time to the contracts’ maturity.

The company has investments of $1,231.4 (2008 – $463.1) in certain private placement debt securities and
preferred shares which have been designated as held for trading or classified as available for sale depending on
the characteristics of the security. The fair values of these securities are determined based on industry accepted
valuation models, which are sensitive to certain assumptions, specifically share price volatility and credit spreads
of the issuer.

Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs – Inputs include unobservable inputs used in the measurement of
financial instruments. Management is required to use its own assumptions regarding unobservable inputs as
there is little, if any, market activity in these assets or liabilities or related observable inputs that can be
corroborated at the measurement date.

The company values its Level 3 investments, which are comprised primarily of mortgage-backed securities
purchased at deep discounts to par during 2008 (fair value of $30.1 at December 31, 2009 (2008 – $151.7)), using
an internal discounted cash flow model. The cash flow model incorporates actual cash flows on the mortgage-
backed securities through the current period and projects the remaining cash flows from the underlying
mortgages, using a number of assumptions and inputs that are based on the security-specific collateral. The
company assesses the reasonableness of the fair values of these securities by comparing to industry accepted
valuation models, by reference to movements in credit spreads and by comparing the fair values to recent
transaction prices for similar assets where available.

42

The company’s use of quoted market prices, internal models using observable market information as inputs and
internal models without observable market information as inputs in the valuation of securities and derivative
contracts were as follows:

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

Cash and cash equivalents

Short term investments:

Canadian government

U.S. treasury

Other government

Corporate and other

Bonds:

Canadian government

U.S. treasury

U.S. states and municipalities

Other government

Corporate and other

Mortgage backed securities –

residential

Preferred stocks:(1)

Canadian

U.S.

Other

Common stocks:(1)

Canadian

U.S.

Other

Total fair
value asset
(liability)

Quoted
prices
(Level 1)

2,233.2

2,233.2

71.8

71.8

1,196.5

1,196.5

177.2

21.0

135.0

–

1,466.5

1,403.3

1,538.5

541.4

5,497.8

919.7

2,689.3

281.7

11,468.4

110.4

215.6

31.6

357.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

755.5

740.2

3,226.6

3,187.6

980.8

710.3

4,962.9

4,638.1

Derivatives and other invested assets

240.2

41.6

–

–

–

42.2

21.0

63.2

1,538.5

541.4

5,497.8

919.7

2,672.2

251.6

11,421.2

110.4

215.6

31.6

357.6

15.3

38.6

267.1

321.0

198.6

Total fair
value asset
(liability)

Quoted
prices
(Level 1)

2,640.9

2,640.9

334.9

334.9

2,947.5

2,946.7

409.7

381.4

–

–

3,692.1

3,663.0

1,726.3

985.0

4,104.6

853.4

833.6

151.7

8,654.6

10.1

0.1

28.0

38.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

10.1

–

–

10.1

560.3

548.0

2,798.0

2,750.6

705.8

518.1

4,064.1

3,816.7

480.8

39.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

17.1

30.1

47.2

–

–

–

–

–

0.4

3.4

3.8

–

–

–

–

0.8

28.3

–

29.1

1,726.3

985.0

4,104.6

852.4

819.7

–

8,488.0

–

0.1

28.0

28.1

12.3

47.4

183.9

243.6

441.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.0

13.9

151.7

166.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

3.8

3.8

–

–

Short sale and derivative obligations

(57.2)

–

(57.2)

(29.4)

(20.1)

(9.3)

Holding company cash, short term

investments and marketable
securities and portfolio investments
measured at fair value

20,671.6

8,316.2

12,304.4

51.0

19,541.3

10,150.0

9,220.9

170.4

100.0%

40.2%

59.5%

0.3%

100.0%

51.9%

47.2%

0.9%

(1) Excluded from these totals are available for sale investments of $66.4 (nil at December 31, 2008), nil ($12.1 at
December 31, 2008) and $59.6 ($177.1 at December 31, 2008) in common shares, preferred stocks and partnership trusts
respectively which are carried at cost as they do not have quoted market values in active markets.

43

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

A summary of changes in fair values of Level 3 financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the years
ended December 31 follows:

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Balance – beginning of year
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)

Included in net gains (losses) on investments
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

Purchases
Sales
Transfer out of category

Balance – end of year

Bonds
166.6

Common
stocks
3.8

Total
170.4

Bonds
23.3

Common
stocks
10.6

(12.5)
1.1
44.2
(56.7)
(95.5)

47.2

–
(0.9)
0.9

–

3.8

(12.5)
0.2
45.1
(56.7)
(95.5)

(35.9)
(1.5)
188.1
(7.4)
–

7.9
–
4.8
(17.0)
(2.5)

51.0

166.6

3.8

170.4

Total
33.9

(28.0)
(1.5)
192.9
(24.4)
(2.5)

A net loss for 2009 of $19.8 (2008 – $29.2) representing the change in fair value of the company’s investments still
held as at December 31, 2009 (principally mortgage backed securities purchased at deep discounts to par) priced using
Level 3 inputs was recognized in net gains (losses) on investments in the consolidated statement of earnings. The
change in fair value of $19.8 (2008 – $29.2) was offset by the receipt of $90.3 (2008 – $44.9) of interest and return of
capital during the period. During 2009, as the result of an increase in market liquidity, broker quotations and
observable market transactions became available for certain of the company’s mortgage-backed securities where fair
value was previously determined using Level 3 inputs. Accordingly, $95.5 of these securities were transferred from the
Level 3 category to the Level 2 category.

44

Investment Income
An analysis of investment income for the years ended December 31 follows:

Classified
as
held for
trading

Designated
as
held for
trading

2009

Classified
as
available

for sale Other

Total

Classified
as
held for
trading

Designated
as
held for
trading

2008

Classified
as
available

for sale Other

Total

11.0

–
(5.3)

7.9

315.6
–

7.7

225.5
–

5.7

323.5

233.2

–

–
2.9

2.9

26.6

541.1
(2.4)

100.4

–
14.8

565.3

115.2

–
–

–

–

–

3.1
–

3.1

–

–

2.8
131.6

134.4

–
–

–

5.9
131.6

137.5

–

–

23.3

23.3

(13.4)

(13.4)

–
–

–

–

–

–

81.9
–

81.9

–
–

–

–

–

30.8

372.7
–

403.5

1.5
74.5

76.0

–

–
6.4

6.4

–
–

–

131.2

454.6
21.2

607.0

1.5
74.5

76.0

–

–

(49.4)

(49.4)

(7.2)

(7.2)

5.7

326.6

367.6

12.8

712.7

115.2

81.9

479.5

(50.2)

626.4

Interest income:

Cash and short term investments

Bonds
Derivatives and other

Dividends:

Preferred stocks
Common stocks

Earnings (losses) from investments, at equity

Investment expenses

Net gains (losses) on investments:

Bonds:

Gains
Losses

Preferred stocks:

Gains
Losses

Common stocks:

Gains

Losses

Financial instruments classified as

held for trading

Foreign currency gains (losses) on investing

activities

Foreign currency gains (losses) on

underwriting activities

Foreign currency translation loss on
disposition of investee company

Repurchase of debt

Other

Other than temporary impairments

of investments

–
–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

37.5

18.2

–

–
–

–

–

55.7

61.4

691.7
–

248.1
(5.0)

691.7

243.1

24.3
–

24.3

35.3

–

35.3

2.6
(0.3)

2.3

285.9

(82.1)

203.8

–

–

–
–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

939.8
(5.0)

934.8

26.9
(0.3)

26.6

321.2

(82.1)

239.1

–
–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–
(350.0)

602.9
(20.1)

(350.0)

582.8

–
–

–

–

(21.3)

3.0
–

3.0

54.5

(15.0)

(21.3)

39.5

–
–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

602.9
(370.1)

232.8

3.0
–

3.0

54.5

(36.3)

18.2

37.5

3,428.5

–

–

– 3,428.5

(1.1)

(14.7)

8.3

10.7

(70.6)

66.2

49.6

24.0

69.2

–

–
–

–

–
–

14.3

14.3

–
9.0

–
9.0

(4.2)

2.0

14.7

12.5

–

(340.0)

–

(340.0)

–

–
–

–

–

(147.9)

(147.9)

–
–

1.2

–
–

(24.9)
–

0.3

2.1

(24.9)
–

3.6

–

(1,011.8)

– (1,011.8)

746.0

96.5

46.3

944.5

3,357.9

(303.9)

(336.6) (146.7) 2,570.7

1,072.6

464.1

59.1 1,657.2

3,473.1

(222.0)

142.9 (196.9) 3,197.1

45

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Interest income:

Cash and short term investments
Bonds

Derivatives and other

Dividends:

Preferred stocks
Common stocks

Earnings from investments, at equity

Investment expenses

Net gains (losses) on investments:

Bonds:

Gains
Losses

Common stocks:

Gains
Losses

Investments, at equity

Financial instruments classified as held for trading

Foreign currency gains on investing activities
Foreign currency gains on underwriting activities

Repurchase of debt

Other
Other than temporary impairments of investments

2007

Classified
as
held for
trading

Designated
as
held for
trading

Classified
as
available
for sale

Other

Total

182.8
–

20.8

203.6

–
–

–

–

–

–
47.4

–

47.4

–
–

–

–

–

29.6
399.4

–

429.0

1.2
80.5

81.7

–
–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

7.7

(8.4)

212.4
446.8

20.8

680.0

1.2
80.5

81.7

7.7

(8.4)

203.6

47.4

510.7

(0.7)

761.0

–
(55.9)

(55.9)

–
–

–

–

–

64.3
(1.2)

63.1

178.7
(39.9)

138.8

–
–

–

–
–

–

64.3
(57.1)

7.2

178.7
(39.9)

138.8

–

–

220.5

220.5

–

1,277.5

13.9

44.7

37.6
26.4

1.8

113.9
26.4

1.8

–

2.6
(109.0)

(3.6)
(10.2)

(1.0)
(119.2)

–

–
–

(42.0)

140.2

272.5

1,665.9

5.4

650.9

271.8

2,426.9

–
–

–

–
–

–

–

1,277.5

17.7

–

–
–

1,295.2

1,498.8

46

The following table summarizes the impact of investments classified or designated as held for trading on net gains
(losses) on investments recognized in the consolidated statements of earnings. Common stock and equity index
positions includes positions in securities sold but not yet purchased, equity and equity index total return swaps and
equity and equity index call options. Other is primarily comprised of foreign exchange forward contracts, credit
warrants and futures contracts.

Classified as held for trading

Common
stock and
equity index
short positions

Credit
default
swaps

Equity

warrants Other

Designated as
held for trading
Preferred
and
common
stocks

Total Bonds

Total

For the year ended December 31, 2009
Inception-to-date realized gains (losses) on

positions closed in the year

Mark-to-market (gains) losses recognized in
prior years on positions closed in the year

Mark-to-market gains (losses) arising on
positions remaining open at year end

(15.5)

185.4

172.7

(26.1)

316.5

58.8

9.2

68.0

0.1

8.8

(139.2)

–

(18.8)

(157.9)

28.8

–

28.8

(160.8)

58.2

(27.3)

(121.1)

604.1

50.4

654.5

Net gains (losses)

(6.6)

(114.6)

230.9

(72.2)

37.5

691.7

59.6

751.3

For the year ended December 31, 2008
Inception-to-date realized gains (losses) on

positions closed in the year

Mark-to-market (gains) losses recognized in
prior years on positions closed in the year

Mark-to-market gains (losses) arising on
positions remaining open at year end

Net gains (losses)

For the year ended December 31, 2007
Inception-to-date realized gains (losses) on

positions closed in the year

Mark-to-market (gains) losses recognized in
prior years on positions closed in the year

Mark-to-market gains (losses) arising on
positions remaining open at year end

Net gains (losses)

1,994.2

1,801.5

84.7

(754.0)

(0.2)

238.9

2,078.7

1,286.4

106.9

174.0

(15.4)

11.1

58.0

956.2

149.5

1,141.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

62.4

3,858.1

(2.0)

2.9

(666.4)

0.1

–

–

(2.0)

0.1

(1.9)

236.8

(348.1)

(21.3)

(369.4)

63.4

3,428.5

(350.0)

(21.3)

(371.3)

(1.4)

279.5

18.9

(2.1)

(6.4)

(12.2)

(9.8)

1,004.4

(62.6)

(13.3)

1,277.5

(55.9)

–

–

–

–

18.9

(12.2)

(62.6)

(55.9)

4. Short Sale and Derivative Transactions

The following table summarizes the notional and fair value of the company’s derivative instruments and securities
sold but not yet purchased:

Equity derivatives:

Equity index total return swaps – short positions
Equity total return swaps – short positions
Equity total return swaps – long positions
Equity and equity index call options
Warrants

Credit derivatives:

Credit default swaps
Warrants

Foreign exchange forward contracts
Other

Total

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Notional

Fair value

Notional

Fair value

Cost

value Assets Liabilities

Cost

value Assets Liabilities

–
–
–
46.2
10.1

114.8
15.8
–
–

1,582.7
232.2
214.6
79.3
127.5

5,926.2
340.2
–
–

9.2
–
8.7
46.0
71.6

71.6
2.8
1.6
13.7

225.2

–
–
–
0.1
–

161.5
19.2
–
–

–
1.2
7.7
–
–

–
–
48.0
0.3

57.2

–
1.3
–
518.4
–

8,873.0
342.6
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

415.0
0.6
39.4
0.5

455.5

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
20.1
9.3

29.4

The company is exposed to significant market risk through its investing activities. Market risk is the potential for a
negative impact on the consolidated balance sheet and/or statement of earnings resulting from adverse changes in
the value of financial instruments as a result of changes in certain market variables including interest rates, foreign
exchange rates, equity prices and credit spreads. The company’s derivative contracts, with limited exceptions, are
used for the purpose of managing these risks. Derivative contracts entered into by the company are considered
economic hedges and are not designated as hedges for financial reporting purposes.

47

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The fair value of derivatives in a gain position are presented on the consolidated balance sheet in derivatives and
other invested assets in portfolio investments and in the cash, short term investments and marketable securities of
the holding company. The fair value of derivatives in a loss position and obligations to purchase securities sold short
are presented on the consolidated balance sheet in short sale and derivative obligations. The initial premium paid for
a derivative contract, if any, would be recorded as a derivative asset and subsequently adjusted for changes in the
market value of the contract at each balance sheet date. Changes in the market value of a contract is recorded as net
gains (losses) on investments in the company’s consolidated statement of earnings at each balance sheet date, with a
corresponding adjustment to the carrying value of the derivative asset or liability.

Equity contracts
Short positions in equity and equity index total return swaps are held primarily to provide protection against
significant declines in the value of the company’s portfolio of common stocks. The company’s equity and equity
index total return swaps contain contractual reset provisions requiring counterparties to cash-settle on a quarterly
basis any market value movements arising subsequent to the prior settlement. Any cash amounts paid to settle
unfavourable market value changes and, conversely, any cash amounts received in settlement of favourable market
value changes are recognized by the company as net gains (losses) on investments in the consolidated statements of
earnings. To the extent that a contractual reset date of a contract does not correspond to the balance sheet date, the
company records net gains (losses) on investments in the consolidated statements of earnings to adjust the carrying
value of the derivative asset or liability associated with each total return swap contract to reflect its fair value at the
balance sheet date. Final cash settlements of total return swaps are recognized as net gains (losses) on investments net
of any previously recorded unrealized market value changes since the last quarterly reset date. Total return swaps
require no initial net investment and at inception, their fair value is zero.

The company holds significant investments in equities and equity-related securities, which the company believes
will significantly appreciate in value over time. The market value and the liquidity of these investments are volatile
and may vary dramatically either up or down in short periods, and their ultimate value will therefore only be known
over the long term. During the third quarter of 2009, as a result of the rapid increase in the valuation level of
worldwide equity markets, the company determined to protect a portion of its equity and equity-related holdings
against a potential decline in equity markets by way of short positions effected through equity index total return
swaps. At the inception of the short positions, the resulting equity hedge ($1.5 billion notional amount at an average
S&P 500 index value of 1,062.52) represented approximately one-quarter of the company’s equity and equity-related
holdings ($6,517.9). At December 31, 2009, as a result of decreased equity and equity-related holdings of $6,156.5
and increased short positions, the equity hedges had increased to approximately 30%. The company believes that the
equity hedges will be reasonably effective in protecting that proportion of the company’s equity and equity-related
holdings to which the hedges relate, however, due to a lack of a perfect correlation between the hedged items and the
hedging items, combined with other market uncertainties, it is not possible to estimate the reasonably likely future
impact of the company’s economic hedging programs related to equity risk.

During much of 2008 and immediately preceding years, the company had been concerned with the valuation level of
worldwide equity markets, uncertainty resulting from credit issues in the United States and global economic
conditions. As protection against a decline in equity markets, the company had held short positions effected by
way of equity index-based exchange-traded securities including the SPDRs, U.S. listed common stocks, equity total
return swaps and equity index total return swaps, referred to in the aggregate as the company’s equity hedges. The
company had purchased short term S&P 500 index call options to limit the potential loss on U.S. equity index total
return swaps and the SPDRs short positions and to provide general protection against the short position in common
stocks. In November 2008, following significant declines in global equity markets, the company revised the financial
objectives of its economic hedging program on the basis of its assessment that the formerly elevated risks in the global
equity markets had moderated and subsequently closed substantially all of its equity hedge positions, realizing net
pre-tax gains of $1,272.0 and $714.0 for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008 respectively. During
the remainder of the fourth quarter of 2008, the company significantly increased its investments in equities as a
result of the opportunities presented by significant declines in equity valuations.

At December 31, 2009, the fair value included in portfolio investments and in the cash, short term investments and
marketable securities of the holding company of assets pledged as collateral was $230.4 ($28.0 at December 31, 2008),
of which nil ($3.9 at December 31, 2008) was restricted cash; the remainder of the assets, although pledged, may be
substituted with similar assets. Total assets pledged of $230.4 is comprised of collateral primarily for equity and equity

48

index total return swap obligations of $206.0 and assets pledged for the Cdn$25.0 standby letter of credit of $24.4 as
described in note 14 under the heading Financial guarantee.

A limited number of long positions in equity total return swaps were entered into during the first quarter of 2009 for
investment purposes based on attractive valuation levels following the significant declines in the global equity
markets during the fourth quarter of 2008.

Equity and equity index call options include derivative purchase contracts and call options relating to U.S. publicly
traded common stock and indices.

Equity warrants were acquired as part of the company’s investment in debt securities of various Canadian companies
during the second quarter of 2009. The warrants have expiration dates ranging from 4 years to 5 years.

Credit contracts
The company has credit default swaps, referenced primarily to various issuers in the banking and insurance sectors of
the financial services industry, which serve as an economic hedge against declines in the fair value of the company’s
financial assets. These credit default swaps have a remaining average life of 2.4 years (3.3 years at December 31,
2008) and a notional amount and fair value as shown in the table above. As the average remaining life of a contract
declines, the fair value of the contract (excluding the impact of credit spreads) will generally decline. The initial
premium paid for each credit default swap contract was recorded as a derivative asset and was subsequently adjusted
for changes in the market value of the contract at each balance sheet date. Changes in the market value of the
contract were recorded as net gains (losses) on investments in the company’s consolidated statement of earnings at
each balance sheet date, with a corresponding adjustment to the carrying value of the derivative asset.

During 2009, the company sold $3,042.9 (2008 – $11,629.8; 2007 – $965.5) notional amount of credit default swaps
for proceeds of $231.6 (2008 – $2,048.7; 2007 – $199.3) and recorded net gains on sale of $46.2 (2008 – $1,047.5;
2007 – $185.1) and recorded net mark-to-market losses of $160.8 (2008 – net gains of $238.9; 2007 – $956.2) in
respect of its open positions at year end. Sales of credit default swap contracts during 2009, 2008 and 2007 caused the
company to reverse any previously recorded unrealized market value changes since the inception of the contract and
to record the actual amount of the final cash settlement through net gains (losses) on investments in the consol-
idated statements of earnings.

A maturity analysis of the credit default swaps is presented in the following table:

Expiring in 1 year or less
Expiring after 1 year through 5 years
Expiring after 5 years through 10 years

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Notional value
2,112.3
3,778.0
35.9

Fair value
3.7
66.3
1.6

5,926.2

71.6

Notional value

Fair value

60.0
7,208.8
1,604.2

8,873.0

2.1
315.6
97.3

415.0

The company holds, for investment purposes, various bond warrants that give the company an option to purchase
certain long dated corporate bonds. The warrants have expiration dates averaging 37 years.

Foreign exchange forward contracts
A significant portion of the company’s business is conducted in currencies other than the US dollar. The company is
also exposed to currency rate fluctuations through its net investments in subsidiaries that have a functional currency
other than the US dollar. Long and short foreign exchange forward contracts primarily denominated in the Pound
Sterling and the Canadian dollar are used to manage foreign currency exposures on foreign currency denominated
transactions. The contracts have an average term of less than one year and may be renewed at market rates.

Counterparty risk
The company endeavours to limit counterparty risk through the terms of agreements negotiated with the counter-
parties to its total return swap, credit default swap and other derivative securities contracts. Pursuant to these
agreements, the company and the counterparties to these transactions are contractually required to deposit eligible
collateral in collateral accounts for either the benefit of the company or the counterparty depending on the then
current fair value or change in fair value of the derivative contracts.

49

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The fair value of the collateral deposited for the benefit of the company at December 31, 2009, all of which consisted
of government securities that may be sold or repledged by the company, was $23.2. The fair value of the collateral
deposited for the benefit of the company at December 31, 2008, all of which consisted of government securities, was
$285.1, of which $107.6 was eligible to be sold or repledged by the company. The company did not exercise its right to
sell or repledge collateral at December 31, 2009.

The fair value of the collateral deposited for the benefit of counterparties at December 31, 2009 was $206.0, of which
$156.4 was collateral required to be deposited to enter into such derivative contracts and $49.6 of which was
collateral required to be deposited due to changes in fair value. The fair value of collateral deposited for the benefit of
counterparties at December 31, 2008 was $28.0.

Hedge of net investment
In the first quarter of 2009, Northbridge, which conducts business primarily in Canada, became a wholly owned
subsidiary of the company as described in note 18. As a self-sustaining operation with a Canadian dollar functional
currency, the net assets of Northbridge represent a significant foreign currency exposure to the company. In keeping
with the company’s foreign currency risk management objective of mitigating the impact of foreign currency rate
fluctuations on its financial position, in August 2009 the company designated the carrying value of its Canadian
dollar denominated senior notes due August 19, 2019 as a hedge of a portion of its net investment in Northbridge for
financial reporting purposes. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the company recognized $18.3 of foreign
currency movement on the senior notes in changes in gains and losses on hedges of net investment in foreign
subsidiary in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. The foreign currency exposure deferred in the
currency translation account in accumulated other comprehensive income will remain until such time that the net
investment in Northbridge is reduced.

For analyses on how the company uses derivatives and non-derivative instruments in risk management, refer to
note 19 for further information.

5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The following table presents details of the company’s goodwill and intangible assets as at December 31:

Goodwill

Intangible assets subject to
amortization

Intangible
assets not
subject to
amortization

2009
Balance – beginning of year

Additions
Disposals
Amortization charge
Impairment charge
Foreign exchange effect

Balance – end of year

Gross carrying amount
Accumulated amortization
Accumulated impairment

71.5
167.3
(2.8)
–
(2.6)
15.9

249.3

251.9
–
(2.6)

249.3

Customer and
broker
relationships
–
107.5
–
(5.4)
–
13.5

Computer
software
29.7
7.5
–
(4.5)
–
1.5

Other
9.4
0.4
(5.0)
(1.2)
–
–

Brand
names
2.9
21.2
–
–
–
1.9

Other
9.7
–
–
–
–
0.4

Total

123.2
303.9
(7.8)
(11.1)
(2.6)
33.2

115.6

121.5
(5.9)
–

115.6

34.2

3.6

26.0

10.1

438.8

70.6
(27.8)
(8.6)

11.7
(8.1)
–

26.0
–
–

10.1
–
–

491.8
(41.8)
(11.2)

34.2

3.6

26.0

10.1

438.8

50

2008
Balance – beginning of year

Additions
Disposals
Amortization charge
Impairment charge
Foreign exchange effect

Balance – end of year

Gross carrying amount
Accumulated amortization
Accumulated impairment

Goodwill

Intangible assets subject to
amortization

Intangible
assets not
subject to
amortization

Customer and
broker
relationships
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

53.8
20.5
(0.2)
–
–
(2.6)

71.5

71.5
–
–

71.5

Computer
software
29.3
12.7
–
(4.3)
(6.4)
(1.6)

Other
0.5
10.9
(0.2)
(1.8)
–
–

29.7

9.4

61.6
(23.3)
(8.6)

15.7
(6.3)
–

29.7

9.4

Brand
names
–
2.9
–
–
–
–

2.9

2.9
–
–

2.9

Other
5.8
5.2
–
–
–
(1.3)

9.7

9.7
–
–

9.7

Total

89.4
52.2
(0.4)
(6.1)
(6.4)
(5.5)

123.2

161.4
(29.6)
(8.6)

123.2

Goodwill and intangible assets increased during 2009 primarily as a result of the privatization of OdysseyRe and
Northbridge pursuant to the transactions described in note 18. Goodwill increased in 2008, principally reflecting the
non-controlling interests share of goodwill recorded on the acquisition of Ridley and goodwill recognized on an
acquisition by OdysseyRe (note 18).

6. 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 near term. The variability arises as all
events affecting the ultimate settlement of claims have not taken place and may not take place for some time.
Variability may result from receipt of additional claims information, changes in judicial interpretation of contracts or
liability, significant changes in severity or frequency of claims from historical trends, expansion of coverage to
include unanticipated exposures, or a variety of other reasons. These estimates are principally based on the
company’s historical experience using methods of estimation which the company believes to produce reasonable
results given current information and trends.

Changes in claims liabilities recorded on the consolidated balance sheets and the related impact on unpaid claims
and allocated loss adjustment expenses were as shown in the following table:

Provision for claims – beginning of year – net
Foreign exchange effect of change in provision for claims
Provision for claims occurring:

In the current year
In the prior years

Paid on claims during the year related to:

The current year
The prior years

Provision for claims of companies acquired during the year at December 31

Provision for claims at December 31 before the undernoted
CTR Life

Provision for claims – end of year – net
Reinsurers’ share of provision for claims

Provision for claims – end of year – gross

51

December 31,

2009
11,008.5
393.3

2008
10,624.8
(580.3)

2007
10,633.8
328.8

3,091.8
30.3

3,405.4
55.4

3,122.5
22.8

(729.9)
(2,424.9)
68.4

(835.5)
(2,034.2)
372.9

(786.3)
(2,696.8)
–

11,437.5
27.6

11,008.5
34.9

10,624.8
21.5

11,465.1
3,282.0

11,043.4
3,685.0

10,646.3
4,401.8

14,747.1

14,728.4

15,048.1

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The foreign exchange effect of change in provision for claims primarily resulted from the strengthening of Canadian
dollar and European currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The company generally mitigates the impact of foreign
currency movements on its foreign currency denominated claims liabilities by holding foreign currency denom-
inated investment assets. As a result, realized and unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses arising
from claims settlement activities and the revaluation of the provision for claims (recorded in net gains on invest-
ments in the consolidated statement of earnings) are generally partially or wholly mitigated by realized and
unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses on investments classified or designated as held for trading
(recorded in net gains (losses) on investments in the consolidated statement of earnings) and investments classified
as available for sale (recorded in other comprehensive income until realized, at which time the cumulative gain or
loss is reclassified to net gains (losses) on investment in the consolidated statement of earnings).

Fair value
The fair value of insurance and reinsurance contracts is comprised of the fair value of unpaid claims liabilities and the
fair value of the unearned premiums. The fair value of ceded reinsurance contracts is comprised of the fair value of the
reinsurers’ share of unpaid claims liabilities and the unearned premiums. Both reflect the time value of money whereas
the carrying values (including the reinsurers’ share thereof) do not reflect discounting, except for contractual obli-
gations related to workers’ compensation lines of business. The calculation of the fair value of the unearned premiums
includes premium acquisition expenses to reflect the deferral of these expenses at the inception of the insurance or
reinsurance contract. The estimated value of insurance and reinsurance and ceded reinsurance contracts is determined
by projecting the expected future cash flows of the contracts, selecting the appropriate interest rates, and applying the
resulting discount factors to expected future cash flows. The difference between the sum of the undiscounted expected
future cash flows and the sum of the discounted future cash flows represents the time value of money. A margin for risk
and uncertainty is added to the discounted cash flows to reflect factors including the volatility of the lines of business
written, quantity of reinsurance purchased, credit quality of reinsurers and a risk margin for future changes in interest
rates.

The carrying value in excess of the fair value of insurance and reinsurance contracts increased at December 31, 2009
compared to December 31, 2008 as a result of an increase in the average market yield of the company’s bond portfolio
during 2009.

Insurance and reinsurance contracts
Ceded reinsurance contracts

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Fair value
16,127.1
3,250.3

Carrying value
16,667.2
3,534.3

Fair value
16,372.0
3,663.7

Carrying value
16,619.0
3,909.9

In 2009, the company revised its methodology for determining the fair value of its insurance and reinsurance
contracts to better approximate the value at which a transfer of the liabilities related to its insurance and reinsurance
contracts or a sale of the assets related to its ceded reinsurance contracts might occur in a market transaction at the
balance sheet date. The fair values of the company’s insurance and reinsurance contracts disclosed in the prior year
were determined using discount rates based upon U.S. Treasury rates whereas at December 31, 2009 the discount rate
utilized was derived from the average market yield of the company’s bond portfolio. The preceding table presents the
fair value of the company’s insurance and reinsurance contracts at December 31, 2008 on a basis consistent with the
methodology adopted at December 31, 2009.

The table that follows shows the potential impact of interest rate fluctuations on the fair value of insurance and
reinsurance contracts:

Change in interest rates
100 basis point increase
100 basis point decrease

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Fair value of
insurance and
reinsurance
contracts

Fair value of
ceded
reinsurance
contracts

Fair value of
insurance and
reinsurance
contracts

Fair value of
ceded
reinsurance
contracts

15,641.6
16,537.2

3,156.9
3,356.4

15,793.9
16,917.6

3,524.9
3,805.2

52

7. Significant Commutations

During 2009, TIG commuted several reinsurance contracts. As a result of the commutations, TIG received $37.2 in
2009 of total cash proceeds of $136.2 (and received the remaining balance of $99.0 in the first quarter of 2010) and
recorded a reduction of recoverable from reinsurers of $139.8 and a net pre-tax charge of $3.6 in the consolidated
financial statements.

On June 26, 2008, Crum & Forster commuted an aggregate stop loss reinsurance contract. As a result of the
commutation, Crum & Forster received cash proceeds of $302.5 and recorded a reduction of recoverable from
reinsurers of $386.7 and a pre-tax charge of $84.2 in the consolidated financial statements.

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 $15.0 for OdysseyRe and Advent, $5.1 (excluding workers’
compensation) for Crum & Forster and $3.3 for Northbridge. Reinsurance decisions are made by the subsidiaries to
reduce and spread the risk of loss on insurance and reinsurance written, to limit multiple claims arising from a single
occurrence and to protect capital resources. The amount of reinsurance purchased can vary among subsidiaries
depending on the lines of business written, their respective capital resources and prevailing or expected market
conditions. Reinsurance is generally placed on an excess of loss basis and written in several layers, the purpose of
which is to limit the amount of one risk to a maximum amount acceptable to the company and protect from losses on
multiple risks arising from a single occurrence. This type of reinsurance includes what is generally referred to as
catastrophe reinsurance. The company’s reinsurance does not, however, relieve the company of its primary obli-
gation to the policy holder.

The majority of reinsurance contracts purchased by the company provide coverage for a one year term and are
negotiated annually. The ability of the company to obtain reinsurance on terms and prices consistent with historical
results reflects, among other factors, recent loss experience of the company and of the industry in general. The
company does not expect that there will be significant changes in prices or terms and conditions in the near future. If
a major loss were to occur (for example, of the magnitude of 2008’s Hurricanes Ike and Gustav) or if the performance
of the industry were to deteriorate further, the cost for reinsurance could change significantly. If that were to occur,
each subsidiary would evaluate the relative costs and benefits of accepting more risk on a net basis, reducing exposure
on a direct basis or paying additional premiums for reinsurance.

Historically the company has purchased, or has negotiated as part of the purchase of a subsidiary, adverse devel-
opment covers as protection from adverse development of prior years’ reserves. In the past, significant amounts of
reserve development have been ceded to these reinsurance treaties. The majority of these treaties have been
commuted, are at limit, or are nearing limit, so that in the future, if further adverse reserve development originally
protected by these covers were to occur, little if any would be ceded to reinsurers.

The pre-tax net impact of ceded reinsurance transactions for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

Earned premiums ceded to reinsurers
Commissions earned on ceded reinsurance premiums
Claims incurred ceded to reinsurers(1)
Provision for uncollectible reinsurance

2009
(814.5)
145.4
391.3
(59.7)

2008
(713.5)
144.9
439.3
(15.0)

2007
(725.0)
147.3
235.9
(46.2)

Net impact of ceded reinsurance transactions (pre-tax)

(337.5)

(144.3)

(388.0)

(1)

In 2009 included a net $3.6 pre-tax loss on TIG’s commuted reinsurance contracts. In 2008 included an $84.2 pre-tax loss
on Crum & Forster’s commutation of an aggregate stop loss contract.

The company has guidelines and a review process in place to assess the creditworthiness of the reinsurers to which it
cedes. Note 19 discusses the company’s management of credit risk associated with reinsurance recoverables.

53

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The company makes specific provisions against reinsurance recoverables from reinsurers considered to be in financial
difficulty. In addition, the company records a general allowance based upon analysis of historical recoveries, the level
of allowance already in place and management’s judgment on future collectibility. The provision for uncollectible
reinsurance at December 31, 2009 was $381.1 (2008 – $370.2).

Changes in the provision for uncollectible reinsurance for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 are presented
in the following table:

Balance, beginning of year

Write-off of recoverables against provision
Provision for credit losses
Release of provision for credit losses
Foreign currency movements

Balance, end of year

2009
370.2
(49.4)
74.9
(15.2)
0.6

2008
424.3
(67.4)
40.0
(25.0)
(1.7)

381.1

370.2

54

14.7
7.0

21.7

181.6
90.9
282.6
144.2
–
91.8
91.3
12.8

895.2

225.0
125.0
50.0
50.0
40.0

14.4
6.7

21.1

177.4
90.6
263.9
143.7
–
91.3
89.9
12.8

869.6

223.7
123.6
49.7
49.7
39.8

9. Subsidiary Indebtedness and Long Term Debt

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Total
carrying
value(a)

Total
carrying
value(a)

Principal

Principal

Subsidiary indebtedness consists of the following balances:
Ridley secured revolving term facility:

Cdn $30.0 or U.S. dollar equivalent at floating rate due

October 31, 2011(2)

U.S. $20.0 at floating rate due October 31, 2011(2)

Long term debt consists of the following balances:
Fairfax unsecured notes:

7.75% due April 15, 2012(1)
8.25% due October 1, 2015(3)
7.75% due June 15, 2017(4)
7.375% due April 15, 2018(3)
7.50% due August 19, 2019 (Cdn$400.0)(1)
8.30% due April 15, 2026(3)
7.75% due July 15, 2037(3)

Other debt – secured loan at 6.15% due January 28, 2009(1)

11.4
1.0

12.4

180.6
90.9
282.6
144.2
381.6
91.8
91.3
–

11.2
0.9

12.1

178.1
90.6
266.1
143.7
377.0
91.3
90.1
–

Long term debt – holding company borrowings

1,263.0

1,236.9

OdysseyRe unsecured senior notes:
7.65% due November 1, 2013(5)
6.875% due May 1, 2015(6)
Series A, floating rate due March 15, 2021(7)
Series B, floating rate due March 15, 2016(7)
Series C, floating rate due December 15, 2021(8)

Crum & Forster unsecured senior notes:

7.75% due May 1, 2017(9)
Advent subordinated notes:

floating rate due June 3, 2035(2)
s12.0 million, floating rate due June 3, 2035(2)

Advent unsecured senior notes:

floating rate due January 15, 2026(2)
floating rate due December 15, 2026(2)

Ridley economic development loan at 1% due August 10,

2019(2)

MFXchange, equipment loans at 7.3% due April 1, 2011

225.0
125.0
50.0
50.0
40.0

224.0
123.8
49.7
49.7
39.8

330.0

307.5

330.0

305.2

34.0
17.2

26.0
20.0

0.7
2.0

33.0
16.8

25.0
19.4

0.6
2.0

34.0
16.7

26.0
20.0

0.8
3.3

32.9
16.2

25.0
19.3

0.7
3.3

Long term debt – subsidiary company borrowings

919.9

891.3

920.8

889.1

2,182.9

2,128.2

1,816.0

1,758.7

(a) Principal net of unamortized issue costs and discounts.

(1) During 2009, the company or one of its subsidiaries completed the following transactions with respect to its debt:

(a) On September 25, 2009, the company purchased $1.0 principal amount of its senior notes due 2012 for cash

consideration of $1.0.

(b) On August 18, 2009, the company completed a public debt offering of Cdn$400.0 principal amount of 7.50%
unsecured senior notes due August 19, 2019 at an issue price of $99.639 for net proceeds after discount, commissions

55

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

and expenses of $358.6 (Cdn$394.8). Commissions and expenses of $3.4 (Cdn$3.7) were included as part of the
carrying value of the debt. The notes are redeemable at the company’s option at any time at the greater of a specified
redemption price based upon the then current yield of a Government of Canada bond with a term to maturity equal to
the remaining term to August 19, 2019 and par. The company has designated these senior notes as a hedge of a portion
of its net investment in Northbridge.

(c) On the maturity date, January 28, 2009, the company repaid the outstanding $12.8 of its 6.15% secured loan.

(2) During 2008, the company or one of its subsidiaries completed the following transactions with respect to its debt:

(a) Effective November 4, 2008, the company consolidated the revolving term facilities and long term debt of Ridley pursuant
to the transactions described in note 18. The interest rates on the revolving term facilities are the bankers acceptance rate for
Canadian dollar debt and LIBOR for U.S. dollar debt plus a margin of 1.00% to 1.50% based on a specific debt ratio.
Subsequent to its acquisition by the company, Ridley repaid $13.2 of its secured revolving term facilities.

(b) Effective September 11, 2008, the company consolidated the long term debt of Advent pursuant to the transaction
described in note 18. The interest rates and call features of Advent’s long term debt are as follows: U.S. dollar notes at
the three month LIBOR plus 3.90% and euro subordinated notes at the three month EURIBOR plus 3.85% due June 3,
2035 may be called at par after June 3, 2010; U.S. dollar unsecured senior notes at the three month LIBOR plus 4.50%
due January 15, 2026 may be called at par after January 16, 2011; and U.S. dollar unsecured senior notes due
December 15, 2026 at the three month LIBOR plus 4.15% may be called at par after December 15, 2011.

(c) On June 16, 2008, Crum & Forster redeemed for cash all $4.3 principal amount of its outstanding notes due 2013 for

total consideration of $4.5.

(d) On June 16, 2008, Cunningham Lindsey repaid the outstanding Cdn$125.0 of its Series B debentures which matured
on that date. This transaction decreased subsidiary company borrowings by $118.6, net of $8.1 of these debentures
owned by the company.

(e) On April 15, 2008, the company repaid the outstanding $62.1 principal amount of its notes which matured on that

date.

(f) On January 9, 2008, the company called for redemption all of its 5.0% convertible senior debentures due 2023. On
February 13, 2008, $188.5 principal amount of these debentures were converted by their holders into 886,888
subordinate voting shares of the company and the company paid a nominal amount of cash to redeem the unconverted
debentures and in lieu of fractional shares. The conversion was recorded as a $192.3 increase of common stock and a
$134.4 and $57.9 reduction of long term debt and other paid in capital respectively.

(3) During 2002, the company closed out the swaps for this debt and deferred the resulting gain which is amortized to earnings

over the remaining term to maturity. The unamortized balance at December 31, 2009 is $31.3 (2008 – $33.3).

(4) Redeemable at Fairfax’s option at any time on or after June 15, 2012, June 15, 2013, June 15, 2014 and June 15, 2015 at

$103.9, $102.6, $101.3 and $100.0 per bond, respectively.

(5) Redeemable at OdysseyRe’s option at any time at a price equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount to be
redeemed or (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon
(exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the
treasury rate plus 50 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.

(6) Redeemable at OdysseyRe’s option at any time at a price equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount to be
redeemed or (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon
(exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the
treasury rate plus 40 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.

(7) The Series A and Series B notes are callable by OdysseyRe in 2011 at their par value plus accrued and unpaid interest. The
interest rate on each series of debentures is equal to three month LIBOR, which is calculated on a quarterly basis, plus
2.20%.

(8) The Series C notes are due in 2021 and are callable by OdysseyRe in 2011 at their par value plus accrued and unpaid

interest. The interest rate is equal to three month LIBOR plus 2.5% and is reset after every payment date.

(9) Redeemable at Crum & Forster’s option at any time beginning May 1, 2012 at specified redemption prices.

56

Northbridge maintains a five-year, unsecured, revolving credit facility with a Canadian chartered bank maturing in
2012 for up to Cdn$50.0. As at December 31, 2009, there was Cdn$1.2 utilized under this credit facility, all of which was
in support of letters of credit. As at December 31, 2009 and until February 23, 2010, OdysseyRe maintained a five-year
$200.0 credit facility with a syndicate of lenders maturing in 2012. As at December 31, 2009, there was $54.9 utilized
under this credit facility, all of which was in support of letters of credit, which included $21.0 in letters of credit that
were cancelled effective January 15, 2010. As at February 24, 2010, the size of the credit facility was reduced to $100.0
with an option to increase the size of the facility by an amount up to $50.0, to a maximum facility size of $150.0.

Consolidated interest expense on long term debt amounted to $165.8 (2008 – $158.2; 2007 – $202.1). Interest
expense on Ridley’s indebtedness amounted to $0.5 (2008 – $0.4). Interest expense of $7.4 was incurred on the
indebtedness of CLGI in 2007.

The fair values of the company’s long term debt are based principally on market prices, where available, or discounted
cash flow calculations. The estimated fair values of the company’s long term debt compared to their carrying values
were as follows:

Long term debt – holding company borrowings
Long term debt – subsidiary company borrowings

Principal repayments are due as follows:

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Thereafter

December 31,
2009

December 31,
2008

Carrying
value
1,236.9
891.3

Fair
value
1,317.4
917.4

Carrying
value
869.6
889.1

Fair
value
711.1
748.7

2,128.2

2,234.8

1,758.7

1,459.8

1.8

0.4

180.6

225.1

0.1

1,774.9

10. Other Long Term Obligations – Holding Company

Other holding company long term obligations were comprised of the following:

Purchase consideration payable
Trust preferred securities of subsidiaries

December 31,
2009

December 31,
2008

Carrying
value
164.4
9.1

Fair
value
164.4
6.9

Carrying
value
169.8
17.9

Fair
value
169.8
11.4

173.5

171.3

187.7

181.2

On December 16, 2002, the company acquired Xerox’s 72.5% economic interest in TRG, the holding company of
International Insurance Company (“IIC”), in exchange for payments over the next 15 years of $424.4 ($203.9 at
December 16, 2002 using a discount rate of 9.0% per annum), payable approximately $5.0 a quarter from 2003 to
2017 and approximately $128.2 on December 16, 2017.

TIG Holdings had issued 8.597% junior subordinated debentures to TIG Capital Trust (a statutory business trust
subsidiary of TIG Holdings) which, in turn, has issued 8.597% mandatory redeemable capital securities, maturing
in 2027.

On April 28, 2009, the company purchased $8.8 principal amount of its trust preferred securities for cash consid-
eration of $5.5.

57

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

11. Shareholders’ Equity

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.

Issued capital

Issued capital includes both multiple and subordinate voting shares and Series C preferred shares.

The Series C preferred shares have a cumulative dividend rate of 5.75% per annum until December 31, 2014 and
thereafter an annual rate to be reset every five years equal to the then current five-year Government of Canada bond
yield plus 3.15%. The Series C preferred shares have a liquidation preference of Cdn$25.00 per share and are
redeemable by the company on December 31, 2014 and on December 31 every five years thereafter at Cdn$25.00 per
share. Holders of unredeemed Series C preferred shares will have the right, at their option, to convert their shares into
Series D floating rate cumulative preferred shares on December 31, 2014, and on December 31 every five years
thereafter. The Series D preferred shares (of which none are currently issued) will have a dividend rate equal to the
three-month Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield current on December 31, 2014 or any subsequent five-year
anniversary plus 3.15%.

Treasury shares

The company acquires its own subordinate voting shares on the open market for use in its various senior share plans
which are described in note 14. The number of shares reserved in treasury as at December 31, 2009 was 131,808
(2008 – 112,109; 2007 – 111,857).

Capital transactions

Subsequent to December 31, 2009

On February 26, 2010, the company completed a public equity offering and issued 563,381 subordinate voting shares
at $355.00 per share, for net proceeds after expenses (net of tax of $0.1) of $199.8.

On February 1, 2010, the company issued 8,000,000 cumulative five-year rate reset preferred shares, Series E for
Cdn$25.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds after commissions and expenses (net of tax of $1.7) of $183.1
(Cdn$195.3). The Series E preferred shares have a dividend rate of 4.75% per annum until March 31, 2015 and
thereafter an annual rate to be reset every five years equal to the then current five-year Government of Canada bond
yield plus 2.16%. The Series E preferred shares have a liquidation preference of Cdn$25.00 per share and are
redeemable by the company on March 31, 2015 and on March 31 every five years thereafter at Cdn$25.00 per share.
Holders of unredeemed Series E preferred shares will have the right, at their option, to convert their shares into
Series F floating rate cumulative preferred shares on March 31, 2015, and on March 31 every five years thereafter. The
Series F preferred shares (of which none are currently issued) will have a dividend rate equal to the three-month
Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield current on March 31, 2015 or any subsequent five-year anniversary plus
2.16%.

Year ended December 31, 2009

On December 1, 2009, the company repurchased for cancellation 2,250,000 and 3,750,000 Series A and B preferred
shares respectively. The company paid $53.9 to repurchase $38.4 (Cdn$56.2) of the stated capital of the Series A
preferred shares and $89.9 to repurchase $64.1 (Cdn$93.8) of the stated capital of the Series B preferred shares. These
redemptions resulted in a charge to retained earnings of $41.3, representing the excess of the redemption amount
paid (stated capital of Cdn$150.0) over the balance sheet carried value of the redeemed shares, the difference arising
as a result of the movement in the Canadian-U.S. dollar exchange rate between the date the company commenced
financial reporting in U.S. dollars and the redemption date.

On October 5, 2009, the company issued 10,000,000 cumulative five-year rate reset preferred shares, Series C for
Cdn$25.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds after commissions and expenses (net of tax of $2.2) of $227.2
(Cdn$244.5).

58

On September 11, 2009, the company completed a public equity offering and issued 2,881,844 subordinate voting
shares at $347.00 per share, for net proceeds after commissions and expenses (net of tax of $6.3) of $989.3.

Under the terms of normal course issuer bids, during 2009 the company repurchased for cancellation 360,100 (2008 –
1,066,601; 2007 – 38,600) subordinate voting shares for a net cost of $122.9 (2008 – $282.0; 2007 – $7.0), of which
$67.3 (2008 – $147.2; 2007 – $2.5) was charged to retained earnings.

Year ended December 31, 2008

On January 9, 2008, the company called for redemption all of its 5.0% convertible senior debentures due 2023. On
February 13, 2008, $188.5 principal amount of these debentures were converted by their holders into 886,888
subordinate voting shares of the company and the company paid a nominal amount of cash to redeem the
unconverted debentures and in lieu of fractional shares. The conversion was recorded as a $192.3 increase of
common stock and a $134.4 and $57.9 reduction of long term debt and other paid in capital respectively.

During 2008, the company repurchased for cancellation 750,000 and 1,250,000 Series A and Series B preferred shares
respectively. The company paid $18.3 to repurchase $12.8 (Cdn$18.8) of the stated capital of the Series A preferred
shares and $29.7 to repurchase $21.3 (Cdn$31.3) of the stated capital of the Series B preferred shares. These
transactions resulted in a charge to retained earnings of $13.9, representing the excess of the redemption amount
paid (stated capital of Cdn$50.0) over the balance sheet carried value of the redeemed shares, the difference arising as
a result of the movement in the Canadian-U.S. dollar exchange rate between the date the company commenced
financial reporting in U.S. dollars and the redemption date.

Dividends

On January 5, 2010, the company declared a cash dividend of $10.00 per share on its outstanding multiple voting and
subordinate voting shares, payable on January 26, 2010 to shareholders of record on January 19, 2010 for a total cash
payment of $201.2.

On January 6, 2009, the company declared a cash dividend of $8.00 per share on its outstanding multiple voting and
subordinate voting shares, payable on January 27, 2009 to shareholders of record on January 20, 2009 for a total cash
payment of $140.8.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The balances related to each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:

Net unrealized gains (losses) on available

for sale securities:
Bonds
Common stocks and other

Currency translation account

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Pre-tax
amount

Income tax
(expense)
recovery

After-tax
amount

Pre-tax
amount

Income tax
(expense)
recovery

After-tax
amount

181.2
877.5

1,058.7
153.9

(60.5)
(251.1)

(311.6)
(7.9)

1,212.6

(319.5)

120.7
626.4

747.1
146.0

893.1

133.5
(199.7)

(66.2)
(32.4)

(98.6)

(41.8)
55.7

13.9
(23.1)

91.7
(144.0)

(52.3)
(55.5)

(9.2)

(107.8)

12.

Income Taxes

The company’s provisions for income taxes for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

Current

Future

2009

2008

2007

202.1

1,098.5

387.6

12.8

(342.9)

323.5

214.9

755.6

711.1

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

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 for the years ended December 31 is summarized in the following table:

Provision for income taxes at the statutory income tax rate

Non-taxable investment income

Non-taxable portion of sale (2007 – Hub)

2009

2008

2007

397.9

818.9

780.3

(78.0)

(1.3)

(6.9)

–

–

(11.9)

Tax rate differential on (income) and losses incurred outside Canada

(48.5)

(3.7)

(50.8)

Foreign exchange

Change in tax rate for future income taxes

Recovery relating to prior years

Change in unrecorded tax benefit of losses

Other including permanent differences

Provision for income taxes

25.5

2.1

(33.5)

3.5

8.8

(2.9)

(48.2)

(15.8)

(44.6)

(47.7)

(12.6)

46.6

11.8

0.1

(7.5)

214.9

755.6

711.1

The effective income tax rate of 17.8% implicit in the $214.9 provision for income taxes in 2009 differed from the
company’s statutory income tax rate of 33.0% primarily as a result of the effect of non-taxable investment income in
the U.S. tax group (including dividend income and interest on bond investments in U.S. states and municipalities),
income earned in jurisdictions where the corporate income tax rate is lower than the company’s statutory income tax
rate, the recognition of the benefit of previously unrecorded accumulated income tax losses, the release of $30.7 of
income tax provisions subsequent to the completion of examinations of the tax filings of prior years by taxation
authorities, and adjustments for prior years, partially offset by income taxes on unrealized foreign currency gains on
the company’s publicly issued debt securities.

The effective income tax rate of 30.9% implicit in the $755.6 provision for income taxes in 2008 differed from the
company’s statutory income tax rate of 33.5% primarily as a result of the effect of income earned in jurisdictions
where the corporate income tax rate is lower than the company’s statutory income tax rate and where the benefit of
accumulated income tax losses is unrecorded, the release of $23.3 of income tax provisions subsequent to the
completion of an examination by taxation authorities, and the effect of reduced unrealized foreign currency gains on
the company’s publicly issued debt securities, partially offset by the effect of the unrecorded tax benefit on unrealized
losses arising from other than temporary impairments recorded on common stock and bond investments.

The net future income taxes assets were comprised as follows:

December 31,

2009

207.8

298.6

58.2

(50.3)

16.0

(29.6)

2008

196.7

294.8

65.5

(62.7)

19.6

350.5

500.7

(182.0)

864.4

(165.0)

318.7

699.4

Operating and capital losses

Claims discount

Unearned premium reserve

Deferred premium acquisition cost

Allowance for doubtful accounts

Investments and other

Valuation allowance

Future income taxes

60

Loss carryforwards as at December 31, 2009 which were available to reduce future taxable income of certain
subsidiaries in the jurisdictions as noted, as well as the period in which these loss carryforwards can be utilized,
were comprised as follows:

Less than 1 year

From 1 to 5 years

From 6 to 10 years

From 11 to 20 years

No expiration date

U.S.

Canada

2009
Ireland

U.K.

Total

–

–

–

9.5

50.4

–

50.4

50.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

255.1

421.2

9.5

50.4

–

100.6

676.3

50.4

110.1

255.1

421.2

836.8

The company also has net capital loss carryforwards in Canada related to the former Cunningham Lindsey com-
panies of approximately $40.9 (2008 – $34.0) with no expiry date.

Management reviews the valuation of the future income taxes asset on an ongoing basis and adjusts the valuation
allowance, as necessary, to reflect its anticipated realization. As at December 31, 2009, management has recorded a
valuation allowance against operating and capital losses and temporary differences of $182.0 (2008 – $165.0), of
which $29.2 (2008 – $28.5) relates to losses, mostly of the former Cunningham Lindsey companies in Canada, $132.5
(2008 – $120.6) relates to all of the losses carried forward and temporary differences in Europe (excluding Advent),
and $20.3 (2008 – $15.9) relates to losses and tax credits, mostly of the former Cunningham Lindsey companies in
the U.S. References to the former Cunningham Lindsey companies in Canada and in the U.S. are to certain
companies which were retained by Fairfax following the disposition of its controlling interest in the operating
companies of Cunningham Lindsey Group Inc. pursuant to the transaction in 2007 described in note 18. There are no
valuation allowances related to the Canadian and U.S. insurance and reinsurance operating companies. Manage-
ment expects that the recorded future income taxes asset will be realized in the normal course of operations.

13. Statutory Requirements

The retained earnings of the company are largely represented by retained earnings at the insurance and reinsurance
subsidiaries. The company’s insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are subject to certain requirements and restric-
tions under their respective insurance company Acts including minimum capital requirements and dividend
restrictions. The company’s capital requirements and management thereof are discussed in note 19. The company’s
share of dividends paid in 2009 by the subsidiaries which are eliminated on consolidation was $115.4 (2008 –
$727.9). At December 31, 2009, the company had access to dividend capacity at each of its primary operating
companies as follows:

Northbridge
Crum & Forster
OdysseyRe

(1) Subject to prior regulatory approval.

14. Contingencies and Commitments

Lawsuits

December 31, 2009

263.2(1)
163.8
351.3

778.3

(a) During 2006, several lawsuits seeking class action status were filed against Fairfax and certain of its officers
and directors in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The Court made an
order consolidating the various pending lawsuits and granted the single remaining motion for appoint-
ment as lead plaintiffs. The Court also issued orders approving scheduling stipulations filed by the parties
to the consolidated lawsuit. On February 8, 2007, the lead plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated
complaint (the “Amended Consolidated Complaint”), which states that the lead plaintiffs seek to repre-
sent a class of all purchasers and acquirers of securities of Fairfax between May 21, 2003 and March 22, 2006
inclusive. The Amended Consolidated Complaint names as defendants Fairfax, certain of its officers and

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

directors, OdysseyRe and Fairfax’s auditors. The Amended Consolidated Complaint alleges that the
defendants violated U.S. federal securities laws by making material misstatements or failing to disclose
certain material information regarding, among other things, Fairfax’s and OdysseyRe’s assets, earnings,
losses, financial condition, and internal financial controls. The Amended Consolidated Complaint seeks,
among other things, certification of the putative class; unspecified compensatory damages (including
interest); unspecified monetary restitution; unspecified extraordinary, equitable and/or injunctive relief;
and costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees). These claims are at a preliminary stage. Pursuant to the
scheduling stipulations, the various defendants filed their respective motions to dismiss the Amended
Consolidated Complaint, the lead plaintiffs filed their oppositions thereto, the defendants filed their
replies to those oppositions and the motions to dismiss were argued before the Court in December 2007.
The Court has not yet issued a ruling on these motions. In November 2009, the Court granted a motion by
the lead plaintiffs to withdraw as lead plaintiffs, and allowed other prospective lead plaintiffs 60 days to file
motions seeking appointment as replacement lead plaintiff. Two entities filed such motions and subse-
quently asked the Court to appoint them as co-lead plaintiffs. These motions remain pending. The
ultimate outcome of any litigation is uncertain and should the consolidated lawsuit continue and be
successful, the defendants may be subject to an award of significant damages, which could have a material
adverse effect on Fairfax’s business, results of operations and financial condition. The consolidated lawsuit,
if it continues, may require significant management attention, which could divert management’s atten-
tion away from the company’s business. In addition, the company could be materially adversely affected
by negative publicity related to this lawsuit. Any of the possible consequences noted above, or the
perception that any of them could occur, could have an adverse effect upon the market price for the
company’s securities. Fairfax, OdysseyRe and the named officers and directors intend to vigorously defend
against the consolidated lawsuit and the company’s financial statements include no provision for loss.

(b) On July 26, 2006, Fairfax filed a lawsuit seeking $6 billion in damages from a number of defendants who,
the complaint (as subsequently amended) alleges, participated in a stock market manipulation scheme
involving Fairfax shares. The complaint, filed in Superior Court, Morris County, New Jersey, alleges
violations of various state laws, including the New Jersey Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations
Act, pursuant to which treble damages may be available. The defendants removed this lawsuit to the
District Court for the District of New Jersey but pursuant to a motion filed by Fairfax, the lawsuit was
remanded to Superior Court, Morris County, New Jersey. Most of the defendants filed motions to dismiss
the lawsuit, all of which were denied during a Court hearing in September 2007. In October 2007,
defendants filed a motion for leave to appeal to the Appellate Division from the denial of their motions to
dismiss. In December 2007, that motion for leave was denied. Subsequently, two of the defendants filed a
motion seeking leave to appeal certain limited issues to the New Jersey Supreme Court. That motion for
leave was denied in February 2008. In December 2007, two defendants who were added to the action after
its initial filing filed motions to dismiss the claims against them. Those motions were granted in February
2008, with leave being granted to Fairfax to replead the claims against those two defendants. Fairfax filed
an amended complaint in March 2008, which again asserted claims against those defendants. Those
defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint, which motion was denied in August 2008. In
September 2008, those two defendants also filed a counterclaim against Fairfax, as well as third-party
claims against certain Fairfax executives, OdysseyRe, Fairfax’s outside legal counsel and Pricewaterhou-
seCoopers. Fairfax has not been served with this counterclaim. In December 2007, an individual defendant
filed a counterclaim against Fairfax. Fairfax’s motion to dismiss that counterclaim was denied in August
2008. Fairfax intends to vigorously defend against these counterclaims. In September 2008, the Court
granted a motion for summary judgment brought by two defendants, and dismissed Fairfax’s claims
against those defendants without prejudice. Discovery in this action is ongoing. The ultimate outcome of
any litigation is uncertain and the company’s financial statements include no provision for loss on the
counterclaim.

Financial guarantee

In August 2009, the company issued a Cdn$25.0 standby letter of credit on behalf of an investee for a term of six
months, which is extendible to one year at the option of the investee for an additional premium. In connection with
the standby letter of credit, the company had pledged short term investments in the amount of Cdn$25.0,
representing the company’s maximum loss under the standby letter of credit assuming failure of any right of

62

recourse the company may have against the investee. The company’s consolidated balance sheet as at December 31,
2009 included a liability of $2.9 (Cdn$3.0) representing the fair value of the consideration received for issuing the
standby letter of credit. This liability was recognized in net earnings when the standby letter of credit expired
undrawn on February 23, 2010. At December 31, 2009 and until February 23, 2010, no draw-downs had been made on
this standby letter of credit. Subsequent to the 2009 year-end, on February 24, 2010, the company issued a Cdn$4.0
standby letter of credit on behalf of the same investee for a term of six months. In connection with the Cdn$4.0
standby letter of credit, the company has pledged short term investments in the amount of Cdn$4.2 and recorded a
liability of $0.2 (Cdn$0.2) in its consolidated balance sheet. This liability may be recognized in net earnings if the
standby letter of credit expires undrawn, may be increased by the additional consideration received if the term is
extended or may be increased to reflect increased credit risk in the event of a deterioration in the credit quality of the
investee.

Other

Subsidiaries of the company are 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.

OdysseyRe participates in Lloyd’s through its 100% ownership of Newline Syndicate 1218 (“Syndicate 1218”). In
support of Syndicate 1218’s capacity at Lloyd’s (of which OdysseyRe provides 100%), OdysseyRe has pledged
securities and cash, with a fair value of $139.1 and $123.5 respectively as at December 31, 2009, in a deposit trust
account in favour of Lloyd’s. Advent participates in Lloyd’s through its ownership of Syndicate 780. In support of
Syndicate 780’s capacity at Lloyd’s, Advent has pledged securities, with a fair value of $233.1 as at December 31, 2009,
in a deposit trust account in favour of Lloyd’s. These securities may be substituted with other securities subject to
approval by Lloyd’s.

The pledged assets effectively secure the contingent obligations of Syndicate 1218 and 780 should they not meet their
obligations. The pledging company’s contingent liability to Lloyd’s is limited to the aggregate amount of the pledged
assets. OdysseyRe and Advent have the ability to remove the funds at Lloyd’s annually, subject to certain minimum
amounts required to support their outstanding liabilities as determined under the risk-based capital models and on
approval by Lloyd’s. The funds used to support outstanding liabilities are adjusted annually and the obligations of
OdysseyRe and Advent to support these liabilities will continue until they are settled or the liabilities are reinsured by
a third party approved by Lloyd’s. The company believes that Syndicate 1218 and 780 maintain sufficient liquidity
and financial resources to support their ultimate liabilities and does not anticipate that the pledged assets will be
utilized.

The company under certain circumstances may be obligated to assume loans to officers and directors of the company
and its subsidiaries from Canadian chartered banks totaling $7.5 (2008 – $7.0; 2007 – $9.7) for which 150,148 (2008 –
176,248; 2007 – 195,676) subordinate voting shares of the company with a year-end market value of $58.7 (2008 –
$55.7; 2007 – $56.9) have been pledged as security by the borrowers.

The company has restricted stock plans or equivalent for management of the holding company and its subsidiaries
with vesting periods of up to ten years from the date of grant. As at December 31, 2009, there was $12.6 (2008 – $16.7;
2007 – $24.7) of unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock awards. The costs of these plans are
amortized to compensation expense over the vesting period. For the year ended December 31, 2009, restricted stock
compensation amortization of $8.3 (2008 – $9.4; 2007 – $6.6) was recognized.

The following table summarizes information about the number of shares related to the company’s restricted
stock plans:

Restricted stock awards outstanding – beginning of year

Granted during the year
Exercised during the year
Forfeited during the year

Number of shares

2009

2008

2007

412,258
29,022
(88,109)
(3,507)

425,648
7,546
(18,253)
(2,683)

435,763
8,426
(12,197)
(6,344)

Restricted stock awards outstanding – end of year

349,664

412,258

425,648

63

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

15. Pensions

The company’s subsidiaries have a number of arrangements in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom
that provide pension and post retirement benefits to retired and current employees. The holding company has no
arrangements or plans that provide defined benefit pension or post retirement benefits to retired or current
employees. Pension arrangements of the subsidiaries include defined benefit statutory pension plans, as well as
supplemental arrangements that provide pension benefits in excess of statutory limits. These plans are a combi-
nation of defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans.

In addition to actuarial valuations for accounting purposes, subsidiaries of the company are required to prepare
funding valuations for determination of their pension contributions. All of the defined benefit pension plans have
had their most recent funding valuation performed on various dates within the first six months of 2009 except for
one plan in Canada and one plan in the United Kingdom where the most recent funding valuations were performed
as at December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008 respectively.

The investment policy for the defined benefit pension plans is to invest prudently in order to preserve the investment
asset value of the plans while seeking to maximize the return on those invested assets. The plans’ assets as of
December 31, 2008 and 2007 were invested principally in highly rated fixed income securities and equity securities.
In 2009, the proportion of plans’ assets invested in equity securities increased to approximately 63% with a
corresponding reduction in fixed income and other securities. Plan assets were comprised as follows:

Fixed income securities
Equity securities
Other

Defined benefit
pension plans
December 31,

Post retirement
benefit plans
December 31,

2009
97.7
213.8
29.7

2008
143.4
76.1
21.7

2009
–
–
–

341.2

241.2

–

2008
–
–
–

–

The company’s use of Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 inputs (as described in note 3) in the valuation of defined benefit
pension plan assets for the years ended December 31 was as follows:

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Total
fair value
asset

Quoted
prices
(Level 1)

97.7

213.8

29.7

36.2

209.6

19.9

341.2

265.7

Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
inobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

61.5

4.2

3.2

68.9

–

–

6.6

6.6

Total
fair value
asset

Quoted
prices
(Level 1)

143.4

143.0

76.1

21.7

27.7

21.7

241.2

192.4

Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
inobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

0.4

48.4

–

48.8

–

–

–

–

Fixed income securities

Equity securities

Other

64

The following tables set forth the funded status of the company’s benefit plans along with amounts recognized
in the company’s consolidated financial statements for both defined benefit pension plans and post retirement
benefit plans:

Change in benefit obligation:

Balance – beginning of year

Cost of benefits earned in the year
Interest cost on benefit obligation
Actuarial (gains) losses
Benefits paid
Settlements and other
Change in foreign currency exchange rate
Business acquisition – Ridley (note 18)

Balance – end of year

Change in fair value of plan assets:

Balance – beginning of year

Actual return on plan assets
Company contributions
Plan participant contributions
Benefits paid
Settlements and other
Change in foreign currency exchange rate
Business acquisition – Ridley (note 18)

Balance – end of year

Funded status of plans – surplus (deficit)

Unrecognized net actuarial loss
Unrecognized prior service costs
Unrecognized transitional (asset) obligation

Net accrued liability – end of year

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet

consists of:
Other assets
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Net accrued liability – end of year

Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit

obligations:
Discount rate
Rate of compensation increase
Assumed overall health care cost trend

Defined benefit
pension plans
December 31,

Post retirement
benefit plans
December 31,

2009

2008

2009

2008

305.2
12.4
19.8
32.0
(15.7)
–
32.1
–

385.8

241.2
61.5
24.7
–
(15.7)
–
29.5
–

341.2

(44.6)
28.8
1.7
(3.6)

(17.7)

14.5
(32.2)

(17.7)

369.5
14.9
19.4
(43.5)
(14.2)
(8.8)
(59.5)
27.4

305.2

269.4
(10.8)
35.7
–
(14.2)
(7.8)
(49.7)
18.6

241.2

(64.0)
39.3
1.6
(3.9)

(27.0)

6.3
(33.3)

(27.0)

56.1
2.6
3.5
6.8
(2.3)
(4.6)
3.2
–

65.3

–
–
2.3
–
(2.3)
–
–
–

–

(65.3)
2.6
(5.3)
–

(68.0)

–
(68.0)

(68.0)

67.5
4.1
3.7
(8.2)
(5.2)
(3.4)
(4.8)
2.4

56.1

–
–
4.0
1.2
(5.2)
–
–
–

–

(56.1)
(5.0)
(5.3)
3.9

(62.5)

–
(62.5)

(62.5)

6.0%
4.4%
–

6.2%
4.4%
–

5.9%
4.0%
9.1%

6.6%
4.0%
9.6%

For defined benefit pension plans with funding deficits, the benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets was $210.9
(2008 – $305.2) and $154.9 (2008 – $241.2) respectively. At December 31, 2009, the accumulated benefit obligation
for the defined benefit pension plans was $328.0 (2008 – $289.9). At December 31, 2009 plans with accumulated
benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of plan assets have aggregate deficits of $30.8 (2008 – $48.7).

65

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The following table presents the composition of defined benefit pension and post retirement benefit expense:

Cost of benefits earned in the year, net of employee contributions

Interest cost on benefit obligation

Actual return on plan assets

Defined benefit
pension plans
December 31,

Post retirement
benefit plans
December 31,

2009

2008

2007

2009

2008

2007

12.4

19.8

(61.5)

14.9

19.4

10.8

17.5

30.9

(15.6)

2.6

3.5

–

2.9

3.7

–

3.3

3.8

–

Actuarial (gains) losses on benefit obligation

32.0

(43.5)

(38.7)

6.8

(8.2)

(9.5)

Settlements and other

–

1.6

–

(0.2)

–

–

Annual defined benefit pension and post retirement benefit

expense if all costs and benefits were recognized as they arose

2.7

3.2

(5.9)

12.7

(1.6)

(2.4)

Adjustments to recognize the long term nature of employee future

benefits costs:

(Excess) shortfall of:

Actual returns over expected returns on plan assets

45.3

(25.9)

(14.8)

–

–

–

Actuarial (gains) losses amortized over actuarial (gains) losses

arising

(32.0)

46.0

Prior service costs amortized over plan amendment cost arising

0.1

0.3

41.5

0.2

(7.5)

(0.5)

8.4

10.0

(0.3)

(0.3)

Amortization of the transitional (asset) obligation

(0.9)

(1.0)

(1.4)

0.2

1.0

1.1

12.5

19.4

25.5

(7.8)

9.1

10.8

Annual defined benefit pension and post retirement benefit

expense recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings

15.2

22.6

19.6

4.9

7.5

8.4

Defined contribution benefit expense recognized

17.4

21.1

25.6

–

–

–

Total benefit expense recognized

32.6

43.7

45.2

4.9

7.5

8.4

Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit

expense

Discount rate

6.3% 5.5% 5.1% 6.7% 5.9% 5.4%

Expected long term rate of return on plan assets

5.8% 5.9% 6.2%

–

–

–

Rate of compensation increase

4.4% 4.4% 4.5% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%

The annual assumed rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered benefits (ie. health care cost trend rate) is
assumed to be 9.1% in 2010, decreasing to 5.0% by 2022 calculated on a weighted average basis.

The assumed expected rate of return on assets is a forward-looking estimate of the plan’s return, determined by
considering expectations for inflation, long-term expected return on bonds and a reasonable assumption for an
equity risk premium. The expected long-term return for each asset class is then weighted based on the target asset
allocation to develop the expected long-term rate of return. This resulted in the selection of an assumed expected rate
of return of 5.8% for 2009, 5.9% for 2008 and 6.2% for 2007.

Increasing the assumed health care cost trend rates by one percentage point in each year would increase the accrued
post retirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2009 by $8.8, and increase the aggregate of the service and
interest cost components of net periodic post retirement benefit expense for 2009 by $1.0. Conversely, decreasing the
assumed health care cost trend rates by one percentage point in each year would decrease the accrued post retirement
benefit obligation at December 31, 2009 by $6.9, and decrease the aggregate of the service and interest cost
components of net periodic post retirement benefit expense for 2009 by $0.8.

During 2009, the company contributed $27.0 (2008 – $39.7) to its defined benefit pension and post retirement
benefit plans. Based on the company’s current expectations, the 2010 contribution to its defined benefit pension
plans and its post retirement benefit plans should be approximately $18.8 and $2.3, respectively.

66

The benefits expected to be paid in each of the next five fiscal years and in aggregate for the next five fiscal years
thereafter were as follows:

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015-2019

16. Operating Leases

Defined benefit
pension plans

Post retirement
benefit plans

13.2

12.1

14.7

15.5

17.1

110.3

2.9

3.1

3.4

3.6

3.8

22.5

Aggregate future minimum commitments at December 31, 2009 under operating leases relating to premises,
automobiles and equipment for various terms up to ten years were as follows:

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Thereafter

51.7

42.5

24.4

18.8

17.5

79.4

17. Earnings per Share

Net earnings per share for the years ended December 31 is calculated in the following table based upon weighted
average common shares outstanding:

Net earnings

Preferred share dividends

Excess over stated value of preferred shares purchased for

cancellation

Net earnings available to common shareholders – basic

Interest expense on convertible debt, net of tax

Net earnings available to common shareholders – diluted

2009

856.8

(10.5)

2008

1,473.8

(10.1)

2007

1,095.8

(12.5)

(41.3)

(13.9)

–

805.0

–

805.0

1,449.8

1,083.3

0.3

7.0

1,450.1

1,090.3

Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic

18,301,133

18,036,670

17,700,393

Effect of dilutive shares:

Convertible debt

Options to purchase treasury stock acquired

Total effect of dilutive shares

–

96,765

96,765

104,197

91,890

886,888

87,944

196,087

974,832

Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted

18,397,898

18,232,757

18,675,225

Net earnings per common share – basic

Net earnings per common share – diluted

$

$

43.99

43.75

$

$

80.38

79.53

$

$

61.20

58.38

On February 13, 2008, the company’s 5.0% convertible senior debentures due July 15, 2023 were converted by their
holders into 886,888 subordinate voting shares, which were thereafter weighted for inclusion in the calculation of
basic earnings per share. The subordinate voting shares issuable on conversion of the debentures were weighted for
inclusion in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for 2008 from the beginning of 2008 until the date of
conversion.

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

18. Acquisitions and Divestitures

Subsequent to December 31, 2009

On February 18, 2010, the company announced an agreement with Zenith National Insurance Corp. (“Zenith”)
pursuant to which the company will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Zenith common stock, other than those
shares already owned by Fairfax and its affiliates, for $38.00 per share in cash and pursuant to which Zenith will
become a wholly owned subsidiary of the company. The aggregate cash consideration payable under the merger
agreement for the shares that are not already held by the company is estimated to be approximately $1.3 billion. The
company intends to finance the acquisition with a combination of holding company cash and subsidiary dividends,
and the proceeds from the $200.0 public equity offering completed on February 26, 2010. Following the completion
of the acquisition, the company expects to continue to maintain approximately $1.0 billion in cash, short term
investments and marketable securities at the holding company level. The transaction is expected to close in the
second quarter of 2010, subject to the approval by Zenith shareholders and receipt of customary regulatory
approvals. Zenith is engaged, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, in the workers’ compensation insurance
business throughout the United States.

Year ended December 31, 2009

Establishment of New Brazilian Insurer

At December 31, 2009, the company had invested initial capital of $39.9 (71.2 million Reais) in a newly established,
wholly-owned Brazilian property and casualty insurance company, Fairfax Brasil Seguros Corporativos S.A. (“Fairfax
Brasil”). Fairfax Brasil is headquartered in Sa˜o Paulo, Brazil and plans to commence underwriting in the first quarter of
2010, subject to receipt of approvals by Brazilian insurance regulatory authorities, in all lines of commercial business,
with a primary focus on Brazilian property, energy, casualty, surety, marine, financial lines, special risks, hull and
aviation.

Privatization of OdysseyRe

On September 23, 2009, the company announced a tender offer to acquire the 27.4% of the outstanding common shares
of OdysseyRe that the company did not already own for $65.00 in cash per share (the “OdysseyRe Offer”), representing an
aggregate cash purchase price of approximately $1.0 billion. On October 27, 2009, the company paid for and acquired the
14.2 million OdysseyRe shares which had been tendered at the expiry of the OdysseyRe Offer, increasing the company’s
ownership of OdysseyRe to 96.8% (71.9% at June 30, 2009). On October 28, 2009, in accordance with the terms of the
related merger agreement, all of OdysseyRe’s common shares held by the remaining minority shareholders were cancelled
and converted into the right to receive $65.00 per share in cash and OdysseyRe became a wholly owned subsidiary of the
company. The result of this transaction is summarized in the table that follows.

Privatization of Advent

On October 17, 2009, the company completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding common shares of Advent,
other than those common shares already owned by the company, offering 220 pence per share, for aggregate cash
consideration of $59.5 (£35.8 million), pursuant to a previously announced tender offer. The result of this transaction
is summarized in the table that follows.

Privatization of Northbridge

On January 13, 2009, the company purchased 24.8% of the outstanding common shares of Northbridge for an
aggregate cash purchase price of $374.0 (Cdn$458.4) pursuant to a previously announced offer to acquire all of the
outstanding common shares of Northbridge other than those common shares already owned by the company (the
“Step 1” acquisition). Immediately following the February 19, 2009 approval by Northbridge shareholders of a going
private transaction, Northbridge redeemed the remaining 11.6% of its outstanding common shares for an aggregate
cash consideration of $172.4 (Cdn$215.9) (the “Step 2” acquisition). The Step 1 and Step 2 acquisitions were
completed at an offering price of Cdn$39.00 per share. The result of these transactions is summarized in the table that
follows.

Acquisition of Polish Re

On January 7, 2009, the company completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common shares of Polish Re,
a Polish reinsurance company, for cash consideration of $57.0 (168.3 million Polish zloty), pursuant to a previously

68

announced tender offer. The assets and liabilities and results of operations of Polish Re have been included in the
company’s consolidated financial reporting in the Reinsurance – Other reporting segment. This investment
increased the company’s exposure to the Central and Eastern European economies and has established a platform
for business expansion in that region over time. The result of this transaction is summarized in the table below.

The OdysseyRe, Advent, Northbridge and Polish Re acquisitions were accounted for using the purchase method. The
total intangible assets acquired of $37.9 and $90.8 in the OdysseyRe and Northbridge acquisitions have been
included in the company’s financial reporting in the Reinsurance – OdysseyRe and Insurance – Northbridge report-
ing segments respectively. The fair values of intangible assets were determined primarily through earnings based
approaches incorporating internal forecasts of revenues and expenses and estimates of discount rates and growth
rates supplemented by the use of market based approaches where estimated fair values were compared to similar
market transactions. The customer and broker relationship intangible assets are amortized on the straight-line basis
over periods ranging from 8 to 20 years and the resulting amortization expense is included in OdysseyRe and
Northbridge’s operating results, while the brand names have indefinite lives and are not amortized. The OdysseyRe
and Northbridge acquisitions decreased non-controlling interests in the consolidated balance sheet by $950.2 and
$398.5, respectively. The purchase price allocation of the OdysseyRe acquisition is preliminary and may be revised
when estimates and assumptions are finalized and the valuations of assets and liabilities are finalized within twelve
months of the purchase date.

Acquisition date

October 21, 2009

September 2, 2009

January 13, 2009

February 20, 2009

January 7, 2009

OdysseyRe

Advent

Northbridge

Polish Re

Step 1 acquisition Step 2 acquisition

Total

Percentage of common shares acquired

Cash purchase consideration

Fair value of assets acquired:

Tangible assets(1)
Intangible assets:

Customer and broker relationships

Brand names

Goodwill

Total fair value of assets acquired

Total fair value of liabilities assumed

Net assets acquired

27.4%

1,017.0

36.5%

59.5

24.8%

374.0

11.6%

36.4%

172.4

546.4

100%

57.0

3,028.7

368.3

1,070.2

496.0

1,566.2

141.0

27.9

10.0

64.6

3,131.2

(2,114.2)

1,017.0

–

–

–

368.3

(308.8)

59.5

53.5

7.5

51.5

1,182.7

(808.7)

374.0

26.1

3.7

29.1

79.6

11.2

80.6

554.9

1,737.6

(382.5)

(1,191.2)

172.4

546.4

–

–

13.8

154.8

(97.8)

57.0

(1) Of the $141.0 of tangible assets acquired in the Polish Re transaction, $31.9 comprised cash and cash equivalents.

Other

Investment in Alltrust

On August 31, 2009, the company announced the purchase of a 15.0% interest in Alltrust Insurance Company of
China Ltd. (“Alltrust”) for cash consideration of $66.4. The closing of this purchase was subject to final approval by
the Chinese Insurance Regulatory Commission, which was received on September 29, 2009. Alltrust is headquartered
in Shanghai and provides a full range of primary insurance products and services in China, including property
insurance, liability insurance, surety bonds, short-term health insurance, accident insurance, motor insurance and
reinsurance. The company recorded its investment in Alltrust at cost within the available for sale classification as
Alltrust does not have a quoted price in an active market.

On February 11, 2009, the company made an additional investment of $49.0 in its equity affiliate CLGL to facilitate
that company’s acquisition of the international operations of GAB Robins, a provider of loss adjusting and claims
management services. The company’s ownership of CLGL at December 31, 2009 was 43.6% (45.7% at December 31,
2008).

Year ended December 31, 2008

Acquisition of Ridley

During November 2008, the company, directly and through its operating companies, purchased 9,412,095 common
shares of Ridley (a 67.9% interest), primarily from Ridley’s Australian parent, Ridley Corporation Limited. In
exchange for total cash purchase consideration of $68.4 (Cdn$79.4), the company acquired assets of $231.0

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

(including $2.0 of cash and cash equivalents), assumed liabilities of $114.9 and recorded $48.8 of non-controlling
interests and $1.1 of goodwill. The assets and liabilities and results of operations of Ridley have been included in the
company’s consolidated financial reporting in the Other reporting segment. Ridley is a commercial animal nutrition
company with operations throughout North America.

Acquisition of Advent

On September 11, 2008, the company, directly and through its operating companies, acquired an additional 14.0%
interest in Advent for $17.3 (£9.5 million), increasing the company’s total ownership of Advent to 58.5% from 44.5%.
Prior to this acquisition of a controlling interest, the company recorded its investment in Advent using the equity
method of accounting. Following the transaction, the assets and liabilities and results of operations of Advent have
been included in the company’s consolidated financial reporting in the Reinsurance – Other reporting segment. The
consolidation resulted in an increase of $831.7 in assets (including approximately $89.1 in cash and cash equivalents
and $485.1 in portfolio investments), $649.2 in liabilities, $76.4 in non-controlling interests and the elimination of
the equity accounted carrying value of Advent immediately prior to the acquisition of control. On various dates
during the fourth quarter of 2008, the company, directly and through its operating companies, purchased an
additional 8.1% interest in Advent for cash of $8.3 (£5.4 million), increasing the company’s total ownership interest
in Advent to 66.6% at December 31, 2008. These transactions during the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased non-
controlling interests by $12.0 and resulted in the recognition of $4.5 of negative goodwill in the consolidated
statement of earnings. Advent is a reinsurance and insurance company, operating through Syndicate 780 at Lloyd’s,
focused on specialty property reinsurance and insurance risks.

Acquisition of CropUSA Insurance Agency, Inc. (“CropUSA”)

On August 29, 2008, the company through OdysseyRe purchased certain assets and liabilities associated with the
crop insurance business previously produced by CropUSA for cash consideration of $8.0. Since 2006, CropUSA has
acted as managing general underwriter for OdysseyRe in the crop insurance sector. The acquisition resulted in an
increase of $20.9 in assets, $26.1 in liabilities, $7.7 in goodwill and $5.5 in intangible assets, which will be amortized
over the expected useful lives of such assets.

Cunningham Lindsey

On June 13, 2008, CLGL, a new holding company formed in December 2007 to facilitate the disposition of the
Cunningham Lindsey Group Inc. (“CLGI”) operating companies, repaid a Cdn$125.0 promissory note payable to
CLGI using funds received from its new bank credit facility. CLGI used the proceeds received to repay its 7.0%
unsecured Series B debentures (Cdn$125.0), as described in note 9. During the second quarter of 2008, CLGI
increased its investment in CLGL by Cdn$23.0 by contributing Cdn$5.9 in cash and by converting a Cdn$17.1
promissory note due from CLGL to equity. Subsequent to this investment, CLGI’s interest in CLGL increased to
45.7%. On December 5, 2008, the assets of CLGI were liquidated into Fairfax, triggering the recognition of a loss of
$24.9 in net gains on investments in the consolidated statement of earnings related to the release of cumulative
foreign currency translation losses, with the result that the equity accounted investment in CLGL was owned directly
by Fairfax through an intermediate holding company.

Other

In June 2008, the company through one of its subsidiaries purchased a 19.8% interest in Arab Orient Insurance
Company (“Arab Orient”) for cash consideration of $10.4. Arab Orient is a publicly traded insurance company based
in Amman, Jordan. The company recorded its investment in Arab Orient at fair value within the available for sale
classification.

Year ended December 31, 2007

Cunningham Lindsey

During 2007, the company purchased all of the outstanding shares of CLGI that it or its affiliates did not already own
for cash of Cdn$12.6. On December 31, 2007, CLGI sold to CLGL all of its operating assets and liabilities excluding
CLGI’s Cdn$125.0 of its 7.0% unsecured Series B debentures, a Cdn$72.8 unsecured term loan facility (the “Term
Facility”) and two non-operating subsidiaries, which were retained by the company for nominal consideration.

Trident IV, L.P., a private equity fund managed by Stone Point Capital LLC, and certain affiliated entities (collectively
the “Trident Investors”) formed CLGL, a new holding company, into which they invested Cdn$88.0. CLGI sold its

70

operating assets and liabilities to CLGL in exchange for consideration which included shares of CLGL, cash of
Cdn$64.8 and two promissory notes in the total principal amount of $142.9. The two promissory notes were
included in accounts receivable and other in the consolidated balance sheet of the company. The company also made
a net investment in CLGI of approximately Cdn$12.4 (Cdn$23.1 before repayment of intercompany advances of
Cdn$10.7).

The net cash received in CLGI was used to repay the Term Facility, which had been included in the consolidated
balance sheet as subsidiary indebtedness, and to pay other current working capital obligations. As a result of the
transactions described above, CLGL was owned 51.0% by the Trident Investors, 44.6% by the company, through its
100% ownership of CLGI, and 4.4% by senior management of CLGL.

On December 31, 2007, CLGI commenced equity accounting for its 44.6% interest in the CLGL and the company’s
opening carrying value on that date was $58.8 (net of a $10.2 charge to adjust carrying value to fair value). Of the
Cdn$199.6 of goodwill prior to the sale, 55.4% or Cdn$110.6 was disposed of and included in the $7.6 net loss on
disposition of CLGI’s operating assets and liabilities with the remaining 44.6% or Cdn$89.0 included in the opening
carrying value of the equity accounted investment.

Other

On December 31, 2007, TIG sold its wholly-owned subsidiary TIG Specialty Insurance Company (“TSIC”) to a third
party purchaser, resulting in the recognition of a net gain on investment before income taxes of $8.5. TIG continues
to reinsure 100% of the insurance liabilities of TSIC at December 31, 2007 and has entered into an administrative
agreement with the purchaser which provides for claims handling services on those liabilities.

On April 3, 2007, the company completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of Guild Underwriters Napa Inc.,
realizing a net gain on investment before income taxes of $5.0.

Repurchases of shares

During 2009, OdysseyRe repurchased on the open market for cancellation 1,789,100 of its common shares with a cost
of $72.6, as part of its previously announced common share repurchase programme. These transactions increased the
company’s ownership of OdysseyRe to 72.6% (2008 – 70.4%) and decreased non-controlling interests by $89.6 prior
to the previously described going private transaction in the fourth quarter of 2009. During 2009, Northbridge did not
repurchase any of its common shares for cancellation except for those shares redeemed as part of the going private
transaction described previously.

During 2008, Northbridge repurchased for cancellation on the open market 2,340,000 of its common shares with a
cost of $65.4, and OdysseyRe repurchased for cancellation on the open market 9,480,756 of its common shares with a
cost of $351.4, as part of their previously announced common share repurchase programmes. These transactions
increased the company’s ownership of Northbridge and OdysseyRe to 63.6% (2007 – 60.2%) and 70.4% (2007 –
61.0%), and decreased non-controlling interests by $63.8 and $362.0, respectively at December 31, 2008. As part of
the OdysseyRe step acquisition, the company recorded fair value adjustments to certain of OdysseyRe’s assets and
liabilities of $7.0 and recorded a nominal amount of negative goodwill in the consolidated statement of earnings. The
company recorded a nominal amount of goodwill in connection with the Northbridge step acquisition.

During 2007, Northbridge and OdysseyRe repurchased for cancellation on the open market 841,947 and 2,636,989
respectively of their common shares as part of their previously announced common share repurchase programmes.
These transactions increased the company’s ownership of Northbridge from 59.2% at December 31, 2006 to 60.2% at
December 31, 2007 and of OdysseyRe from 59.6% at December 31, 2006 to 61.0% at December 31, 2007 (including
the conversion of the OdysseyRe 4.375% convertible senior debenture during 2007) and resulted in decreases to non-
controlling interests of $25.7 and $86.4 and increases to goodwill of $3.8 and $8.1 for Northbridge and OdysseyRe
respectively.

19. Financial Risk Management

Risk Management

The primary goals of the company’s financial risk management are to ensure that the outcomes of activities involving
elements of risk are consistent with the company’s objectives and risk tolerance, while maintaining an appropriate
risk/reward balance and protecting the company’s consolidated balance sheet from events that have the potential to
materially impair its financial strength. Balancing risk and reward is achieved through identifying risk appropriately,

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

aligning risk tolerances with business strategy, diversifying risk, pricing appropriately for risk, mitigating risk through
preventive controls and transferring risk to third parties. There were no significant changes in the types of the
company’s risk exposures and processes for managing those risks during 2009 compared to those identified in 2008.
As a result of the significant increases in the company’s equity and fixed income holdings, the company’s exposure to
equity price risk and interest rate risk at December 31, 2009 had increased compared to December 31, 2008, partially
offset by the moderation of the volatility which was present in worldwide equity markets and the uncertainty
resulting from global credit issues during 2008 and early 2009.

The company’s exposure to potential loss from financial instruments, including exposures arising from its insurance
and reinsurance operations and exposures related to its investment activities, primarily relates to underwriting risk,
credit risk, liquidity risk and various market risks, including interest rate risk, equity market risk, and foreign currency
risk.

Financial risk management objectives are achieved through a two tiered system, with detailed risk management
processes and procedures at the company’s primary operating subsidiaries combined with the analysis of the
company-wide aggregation and accumulation of risks at the holding company level. The company’s Chief Risk
Officer reports quarterly to Fairfax’s Executive Committee on the key risk exposures. The Executive Committee
approves certain policies for overall risk management, as well as policies addressing specific areas such as invest-
ments, underwriting, catastrophe risk and reinsurance. The Investment Committee approves policies for the
management of market risk (including interest rate, credit quality and equity market risk), the use of derivative
and non-derivative financial instruments, and monitors to ensure compliance with relevant regulatory guidelines
and requirements. All risk management policies are submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.

Underwriting Risk

Underwriting risk is the risk that the total cost of claims, claims adjustment expenses and premium acquisition
expenses will exceed premiums received and can arise as a result of numerous factors, including pricing risk, reserving
risk and catastrophe risk. There were no significant changes to the company’s exposure to underwriting risk or the
framework used to monitor, evaluate and manage underwriting risk at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31,
2008.

Pricing risk arises when actual claims experience differs adversely from the assumptions included in pricing
calculations. Historically the underwriting results of the property and casualty industry have fluctuated significantly
due to the cyclicality of the insurance market. The market cycle is affected by the frequency and severity of losses,
levels of capacity and demand, general economic conditions and competition on rates and terms of coverage. The
operating companies focus on profitable underwriting using a combination of experienced commercial underwriting
staff, pricing models and price adequacy monitoring tools.

Reserving risk arises when actual claims experience differs adversely from the assumptions included in setting
reserves, in large part due to the length of time between the occurrence of a loss, the reporting of the loss to the
insurer and the ultimate resolution of the claim. Claims provisions are expectations of the ultimate cost of resolution
and administration of claims based on an assessment of facts and circumstances then known, a review of historical
settlement patterns, estimates of trends in claims severity and frequency, legal theories of liability and other factors.
Variables in the reserve estimation process can be affected by both internal and external events, such as changes in
claims handling procedures, economic inflation, legal trends, legislative changes, inclusion of exposures not
contemplated at the time of policy inception and significant changes in severity or frequency of claims relative
to historical trends. Due to the amount of time between the occurrence of a loss, the actual reporting of the loss and
the ultimate payment, provisions may ultimately develop differently from the actuarial assumptions made when
initially estimating the provision for claims. The company’s provision for claims is reviewed separately by, and must
be acceptable to, internal actuaries at each operating company, the Chief Risk Officer at Fairfax and one or more
independent actuaries.

Catastrophe risk arises as property and casualty insurance companies may be exposed to large losses arising from
man-made or natural catastrophes that could result in significant underwriting losses. The company evaluates
potential catastrophic events and assesses the probability of occurrence and magnitude of these events through
various modeling techniques and through the aggregation of limits exposed. Each of the operating companies has
strict underwriting guidelines for the amount of catastrophe exposure it may assume for any one risk and location.
Each of the operating companies manages catastrophe exposure by factoring in levels of reinsurance protection,
capital levels and risk tolerances. The company’s head office aggregates catastrophe exposure company-wide and

72

continually monitors the group exposure. Currently the company’s objective is to limit its company-wide catas-
trophe loss exposure such that one year’s aggregate pre-tax net catastrophe losses would not exceed one year’s
normalized earnings from operations before income taxes.

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk of loss resulting from the failure of a counterparty to honour its financial or contractual
obligations to the company. Credit risk arises predominantly with respect to investments in debt instruments,
reinsurance recoverables and receivables and balances due from counterparties to derivative contracts (primarily
credit default swaps and total return swaps). Changes to the company’s exposure to credit risk at December 31, 2009
compared to December 31, 2008 are described in the following sections.

The aggregate gross credit risk exposure at December 31, 2009 (without taking into account amounts pledged to and
held by the company as collateral of $1,054.4 (2008 – $1,307.1)) was $21,057.8 (2008 – $21,366.0) and was com-
prised as follows:

Gross recoverable from reinsurers
Bonds:

U.S., Canadian and other government
U.S. states and municipalities

Corporate and other and mortgage backed securities – residential

Derivatives (2008 – primarily credit default swaps)
Accounts receivable
Cash and short term investments

Total gross exposure

Investments in Debt Instruments

December 31,
2009

2008

3,809.1

4,234.2

2,999.6
5,497.8

2,971.0
225.2
1,855.4
3,699.7

3,564.7
4,104.6

985.3
455.5
1,688.7
6,333.0

21,057.8

21,366.0

The company’s risk management strategy is to invest primarily in debt instruments of high credit quality issuers and
to limit the amount of credit exposure with respect to any one issuer. While the company reviews third party ratings,
it carries out its own analysis and does not delegate the credit decision to rating agencies. The company endeavours to
limit credit exposure by imposing fixed income portfolio limits on individual corporate issuers and limits based on
credit quality and may, from time to time, invest in credit default swaps to further mitigate credit risk exposure.

As at December 31, 2009, the company had holdings of bonds exposed to credit risk (primarily bonds included in
Corporate and other and U.S. states and municipalities) with fair value of $8,468.8 compared to $5,089.9 at
December 31, 2008. As a result of the significant increases in the company’s fixed income holdings, the company’s
exposure to credit risk at December 31, 2009 had increased compared to December 31, 2008. The company’s current
financial risk management framework is able to manage the additional risk exposures.

The composition of the company’s fixed income portfolio for the years ended December 31 classified according to the
higher of each security’s respective S&P and Moody’s issuer credit ratings, is presented in the table that follows:

Issuer Credit Rating

AAA/Aaa

AA/Aa

A/A

BBB/Baa

BB/Ba

B/B

Lower than B/B and unrated

Total

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Carrying
value

5,748.9

1,695.4

1,468.5

970.8

253.5

291.9

1,039.4

%

50.1

14.8

12.8

8.5

2.2

2.5

9.1

Carrying
value

6,512.5

1,377.8

194.9

2.1

10.0

232.0

325.3

%

75.2

15.9

2.3

0.0

0.1

2.7

3.8

11,468.4

100.0

8,654.6

100.0

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

At December 31, 2009, 86.2% (2008 – 93.4%) of the fixed income portfolio at carrying value was rated investment
grade, with 64.9% (2008 – 91.1%) being rated AA or better (primarily consisting of government obligations). At
December 31, 2009, holdings of fixed income securities in the ten issuers (excluding federal governments) to which
the company had the greatest exposure totaled $4,023.9, which represented approximately 18.9% of the total
investment portfolio. The exposure to the largest single issuer of corporate bonds held at December 31, 2009 was
$442.0, which represented approximately 2.1% of the total investment portfolio.

The consolidated investment portfolio included $5.5 billion (2008 – $4.1 billion) in U.S. state, municipal and other
tax-exempt bonds (approximately $4.6 billion tax-exempt, $0.9 billion taxable), almost all of which were purchased
during 2008 and 2009. Of the $5.4 billion (2008 – $4.0 billion) held in the subsidiary investment portfolios at
December 31, 2009, approximately $3.5 billion (2008 – $3.5 billion) were insured by Berkshire Hathaway Assurance
Corp. for the payment of interest and principal in the event of issuer default; the company believes that this
insurance significantly mitigates the credit risk associated with these bonds.

Subsidiary portfolio investments and holding company investments included $5,926.2 (2008 – $8,873.0) notional
amount of credit default swaps with a fair value of $71.6 (2008 – $415.0) and a remaining average life of approximately
2.4 years (2008 – 3.3 years). Since 2003, the company has used credit default swap contracts referenced to various issuers in
the banking, mortgage and insurance sectors of the financial services industry as an economic hedge of risks affecting
specific financial assets (recoverables from reinsurers), exposures potentially affecting the fair value of the company’s fixed
income portfolio (principally investments in fixed income securities classified as corporate and other and U.S. states and
municipalities in the company’s consolidated financial statements) and of broader systemic risk. The company’s holdings
of credit default swap contracts declined significantly in 2009 relative to prior years, largely as a result of significant sales in
2008. In the latter part of 2008, the company revised the financial objectives of its economic hedging program by
determining not to replace its credit default swap hedge position as sales or expiries occurred based on: (i) the company’s
judgment that its exposure to formerly elevated levels of credit risk had moderated and that as a result the company had
made the determination that its historical approaches to managing credit risk apart from the use of credit default swaps
were once again satisfactory as a means of mitigating the company’s exposure to credit risk arising from its exposure to
financial assets; (ii) the significant increase in the cost of purchasing credit protection (reducing the attractiveness of the
credit default swap contract as a hedging instrument); and (iii) the fact that the company’s capital and liquidity had
benefited significantly from approximately $2.5 billion in cash proceeds of sales of credit default swaps realized since
2007. As a result, the effects that credit default swaps as hedging instruments may be expected to have on the company’s
future financial position, liquidity and operating results may be expected to diminish significantly relative to the effects in
recent years. The company may initiate new credit default swap contracts as an effective hedging mechanism in the
future, but there can be no assurance that it will do so.

Balances due from Counterparties to Derivative Contracts

The company endeavours to limit counterparty risk through the terms of agreements negotiated with the counter-
parties to its total return swap, credit default swap and other derivative securities contracts. Pursuant to these
agreements, the company and the counterparties to these transactions are contractually required to deposit eligible
collateral in collateral accounts for either the benefit of the company or the counterparty depending on the then
current fair value or change in fair value of the derivative contracts.

The fair value of the collateral deposited for the benefit of the company at December 31, 2009, all of which consisted
of government securities that may be sold or repledged by the company, was $23.2. The fair value of the collateral
deposited for the benefit of the company at December 31, 2008, all of which consisted of government securities, was
$285.1, of which $107.6 was eligible to be sold or repledged by the company. The company had not exercised its right
to sell or repledge collateral at December 31, 2009.

The fair value of the collateral deposited for the benefit of counterparties at December 31, 2009 was $206.0, of which
$156.4 was collateral required to be deposited to enter into such derivative contracts and $49.6 of which was
collateral required to be deposited due to changes in fair value. The fair value of collateral deposited for the benefit of
counterparties at December 31, 2008 was $28.0.

Reinsurance Recoverables and Receivables

Credit exposure on the company’s reinsurance recoverable and receivable balances existed at December 31, 2009 to the
extent that any reinsurer may not be able or willing to reimburse the company under the terms of the relevant reinsurance
arrangements. The company has a regular review process to assess the creditworthiness of reinsurers with whom it

74

transacts business. Internal guidelines generally require reinsurers to have strong A.M. Best ratings and maintain capital
and surplus exceeding $500.0. Where contractually provided for, the company has collateral for outstanding balances in
the form of cash, letters of credit, guarantees or assets held in trust accounts. This collateral may be drawn on for amounts
that remain unpaid beyond contractually specified time periods on an individual reinsurer basis.

The company’s reinsurance security department conducts ongoing detailed assessments of current and potential
reinsurers and annual reviews on impaired reinsurers, and provides recommendations for uncollectible reinsurance
provisions for the group. The reinsurance security department also collects and maintains individual and group
reinsurance exposures aggregated across the group. Most of the reinsurance balances for reinsurers rated B++ and lower
or which are not rated were inherited by the company on acquisition of a subsidiary. The company’s largest single
reinsurer (Swiss Re America Corp.) represents 7.2% (2008 – 12.5%) of shareholders’ equity and is rated A by A.M. Best.

The company makes provisions against reinsurance recoverables from companies considered to be in financial
difficulty. The company recorded a provision for uncollectible reinsurance and charges related to written off
reinsurance balances in 2009 totaling $59.7 (2008 – $15.0; 2007 – $46.2). The following table presents the
$3,809.1 (2008 – $4,234.2) total gross reinsurance recoverable and paid losses receivable classified according to
the financial strength rating of the reinsurers:

A.M. Best Rating
A++
A+
A
A-
B++
B+
B or lower
Not rated
Pools & associations

Provision for uncollectible reinsurance

Gross
reinsurance
recoverable
and receivable
124.0
871.4
1,837.4
352.8
39.6
60.7
17.6
806.0
80.7

4,190.2
381.1

3,809.1

December 31, 2009

Outstanding
balances for
which security is
held

8.4
76.1
470.3
143.5
9.9
41.3
0.3
235.7
45.7

1,031.2

Net unsecured
reinsurance
recoverable and
receivable
115.6
795.3
1,367.1
209.3
29.7
19.4
17.3
570.3
35.0

Gross
reinsurance
recoverable and
receivable
187.1
1,825.2
1,041.0
341.1
37.1
47.8
117.3
925.2
82.6

3,159.0
381.1

2,777.9

4,604.4
370.2

4,234.2

December 31, 2008

Outstanding
balances for
which security is
held

10.9
301.6
208.3
94.6
4.2
19.0
4.3
352.9
26.2

1,022.0

Net unsecured
reinsurance
recoverable and
receivable
176.2
1,523.6
832.7
246.5
32.9
28.8
113.0
572.3
56.4

3,582.4
370.2

3,212.2

The following table summarizes the effect of the credit default swap hedging instruments and related economically
hedged items on the company’s historical financial position and results of operations as of and for the years ended
December 31, 2009 and 2008:

December 31, 2009

For the Year Ended December 31, 2009

Exposure/
notional value

Carrying
value

Other
comprehensive
income
(pre-tax)

Net earnings
(pre-tax)

Net equity
(pre-tax)

Credit risk exposures:

Bonds:

U.S., Canadian and other government

U.S. states and municipalities

Corporate and other and mortgage backed

securities-residential

Derivatives and other invested assets:

Receivable from counterparties to derivatives

Accounts receivable and other

Recoverable from reinsurers

Cash and short term investments

2,999.6

5,497.8

2,999.6

5,497.8

–

65.3

2,971.0

2,971.0

185.4

225.2

1,855.4

3,809.1

3,699.7

225.2

1,855.4

3,809.1

3,699.7

–

–

–

–

–

308.6

599.1

3.1

(1.9)

(59.7)

–

–

373.9

784.5

3.1

(1.9)

(59.7)

–

21,057.8

21,057.8

250.7

849.2

1,099.9

Hedging instruments:

Derivatives and other invested assets:

Credit default swaps

(5,926.2)

(71.6)

–

(114.6)

(114.6)

Net exposure and financial effects

15,131.6

20,986.2

250.7

734.6

985.3

75

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Credit risk exposures:

Bonds:

U.S., Canadian and other government

U.S. states and municipalities

Corporate and other and mortgage backed

December 31, 2008

For the Year Ended December 31, 2008

Exposure/
notional value

Carrying
value

Other
comprehensive
income
(pre-tax)

Net earnings
(pre-tax)

Net equity
(pre-tax)

3,564.7

4,104.6

3,564.7

4,104.6

–

(26.2)

–

157.9

–

131.7

securities-residential

985.3

985.3

(23.2)

(543.9)

(567.1)

Derivatives and other invested assets:

Receivable from counterparties to derivatives

(primarily credit default swaps)

Accounts receivable and other

Recoverable from reinsurers

Cash and short term investments

Hedging instruments:

Derivatives and other invested assets:

455.5

1,688.7

4,234.2

6,333.0

455.5

1,688.7

4,234.2

6,333.0

–

–

–

–

(14.1)

(4.1)

(15.0)

–

(14.1)

(4.1)

(15.0)

–

21,366.0

21,366.0

(49.4)

(419.2)

(468.6)

Credit default swaps

(8,873.0)

(415.0)

–

1,286.4

1,286.4

Net exposure and financial effects

12,493.0

20,951.0

(49.4)

867.2

817.8

In the normal course of effecting its economic hedging strategy with respect to credit risk, the company expects that
there may be periods where the notional value of the hedging instruments may exceed or be deficient relative to the
company’s exposure to the items being hedged. This situation may arise when management compensates for
imperfect correlations between the hedging item and the hedged item or due to the timing of opportunities related to
the company’s ability to exit and enter hedges at attractive prices.

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk is the potential for loss if the company is unable to meet financial commitments in a timely manner at
reasonable costs as they fall due. It is the company’s policy to ensure that sufficient liquid assets are available to meet
financial commitments, including liabilities to policyholders and debt holders, dividends on preferred shares and
investment commitments.

The company believes that cash, short term investments and marketable securities held at the holding company
provide more than adequate liquidity to meet the holding company’s obligations in 2010. In addition to these
holding company resources, the holding company expects to continue to receive investment management and
administration fees from its insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries, investment income on its holdings of cash, short
term investments and marketable securities, and dividends from its insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries. The
holding company’s known significant obligations for 2010 consist of the potential payment of the approximately
$1.3 billion purchase price in connection with the announced offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Zenith
common stock, other than those shares already owned by the company, the $201.2 dividend on common shares
($10.00 per share, paid in January 2010), interest and corporate overhead expenses, preferred share dividends and
income tax payments.

The liquidity requirements of the company’s insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries principally relate to the
liabilities associated with underwriting, operating costs and expenses, the payment of dividends to the holding
company, contributions to their subsidiaries, payment of principal and interest on their outstanding debt obligations
and income taxes. Liabilities associated with underwriting include the payment of claims.

Historically, the company’s insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries have used cash flow from operations and sales of
investment securities to fund their liquidity requirements. The insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries principal cash

76

inflows from operating activities are derived from premiums, commissions and distributions from their subsidiaries.
The principal cash inflows from investment activities result from repayments of principal, sales of investments and
investment income.

The company’s insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries maintain investment strategies intended to provide adequate
funds to pay claims without forced sales of investments. The insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries hold highly
liquid, high quality short-term investment securities and other liquid investment grade fixed maturity securities to
fund anticipated claim payments and operating expenses. As of December 31, 2009, total insurance and reinsurance
portfolio investments net of short sale and derivative obligations was $20.0 billion. These portfolio investments may
include investments in inactively traded corporate debentures, preferred stocks, limited partnership interests and
mortgage backed securities that are relatively illiquid. At December 31, 2009, these asset classes represented
approximately 6.7% (2008 – 4.8%) of the carrying value of the insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries’ portfolio
investments.

The following table provides a maturity analysis of the company’s financial liabilities based on the expected
undiscounted cash flows from the end of the year to the contractual maturity date or the settlement date:

December 31, 2009

Less than
1 month

1 to 3
months

3 months
to 1 year 1 - 3 years 3 - 5 years

More than
5 years

Subsidiary indebtedness – principal and interest
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities(1)
Income taxes payable

Funds withheld payable to reinsurers

Gross claims liability
Long term debt obligations – principal

Long term debt obligations – interest

Other long term liabilities – principal

Other long term liabilities – interest
Operating leases – obligations

–

179.9
–

0.8

300.4
–

3.9

–

0.4
2.4

–

134.6
70.9

6.1

575.7
–

16.3

1.5

3.6
6.0

0.1

440.6
–

33.3

2,536.6
1.8

136.6

4.6

11.0
43.3

12.6

163.3
–

25.1

4,240.0
181.0

306.3

10.8

28.3
66.9

–

58.6
–

25.1

2,343.0
225.2

268.0

9.5

26.7
36.3

Total

12.7

1,137.9
70.9

354.9

–

160.9
–

264.5

4,751.4 14,747.1
2,182.9
1,774.9

647.8

147.1

44.0
79.4

1,378.9

173.5

114.0
234.3

487.8

814.7

3,207.9

5,034.3

2,992.4

7,870.0 20,407.1

December 31, 2008

Less than
1 month

1 to 3
months

3 months
to 1 year 1 - 3 years 3 - 5 years

More than
5 years

Subsidiary indebtedness – principal and interest
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities(1)
Income taxes payable
Funds withheld payable to reinsurers

Gross claims liability

Long term debt obligations – principal
Long term debt obligations – interest

Other long term liabilities – principal

Other long term liabilities – interest
Operating leases – obligations

–

386.3

–
0.9

283.1

13.0
3.0

0.4

0.8
2.3

0.1

138.2

656.3
6.1

574.8

0.3
13.0

0.8

3.7
5.6

0.4

391.4

–
33.4

22.0

156.4

–
25.1

–

59.9

–
25.1

–

148.0

–
264.5

Total

22.5

1,280.2

656.3
355.1

2,353.0

4,314.3

2,518.3

4,684.9 14,728.4

1.1
116.0

3.4

11.7
40.5

2.0
263.7

12.8

30.9
73.3

406.7
236.7

8.7

29.0
32.5

1,392.9
625.7

161.6

67.4
76.4

1,816.0
1,258.1

187.7

143.5
230.6

689.8

1,398.9

2,950.9

4,900.5

3,316.9

7,421.4 20,678.4

(1) Excludes accrued interest, deferred revenue, deferred costs and unrecognized balances relating to defined benefit pension

and other post retirement benefit plans.

The timing of claims liability payments is not fixed and represents the company’s best estimate. The payment
obligations which are due beyond one year in accounts payable and accrued liabilities primarily relate to the defined
benefit pension and other post retirement benefit plans, and certain payables to brokers and reinsurers not expected
to be settled in the short term.

77

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

For further detail on the maturity profile of the company’s fixed income portfolio, net claims liability, obligation to
pay principal and interest on long term debt and operating lease obligations, please see notes 3, 6, 9, 10 and 16
respectively.

The following table provides a maturity analysis of the company’s short sales and derivative obligations based on the
expected undiscounted cash flows from the end of the year to the contractual maturity date or the settlement date:

December 31, 2009

Short sale and derivative obligations:

Equity total return swaps – short positions

Equity total return swaps – long

Foreign exchange forward contracts

Other

December 31, 2008

Short sale and derivative obligations:

Foreign exchange forward contracts
Other

Market Risk

Less than
1 month

1 to
3 months

3 months
to 1 year 1 - 3 years 3 - 5 years

More than

5 years Total

–

7.7

0.7

–

8.4

1.2

–

7.2

–

8.4

–

–

40.1

–

40.1

–

–

–

0.3

0.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.2

7.7

48.0

0.3

57.2

Less than
1 month

1 to
3 months

3 months
to 1 year 1 - 3 years 3 - 5 years

More than

5 years Total

–
9.3

9.3

–
–

–

8.5
–

8.5

11.6
–

11.6

–
–

–

–
–

–

20.1
9.3

29.4

Market risk is the potential for a negative impact on the consolidated balance sheets and/or statement of earnings
resulting from adverse changes in the value of financial instruments as a result of changes in certain market-related
variables including interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices and credit spreads. The company is exposed to
market risk principally in its investing activities but also in its underwriting activities to the extent that those
activities expose the company to foreign currency risk. The company’s investment portfolios are managed with a
long term, value oriented investment philosophy emphasizing downside protection. The company has policies to
limit and monitor its individual issuer exposures and aggregate equity exposure. Aggregate exposure to single issuers
and total equity positions are monitored at the subsidiary level and in aggregate at the company level. Following is a
discussion of the company’s primary market risk exposures and how those exposures are currently managed.

Interest Rate Risk

Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of the company’s fixed income securities
portfolio. As interest rates rise, the market value of fixed income securities portfolios declines and, conversely, as
interest rates decline, the market value of fixed income securities portfolios rises. The company’s interest rate risk
management strategy is to position its fixed income securities portfolio based on its view of future interest rates and
the yield curve, balanced with liquidity requirements. The company may reposition the portfolio in response to
changes in the interest rate environment.

Movements in the term structure of interest rates and fluctuations in the value of equity securities affect the level and
timing of recognition in earnings and comprehensive income of gains and losses on securities held. Generally, the
company’s investment income may be reduced during sustained periods of lower interest rates as higher yielding
fixed income securities are called, mature, or are sold and the proceeds are reinvested at lower rates. During periods of
rising interest rates, the market value of the company’s existing fixed income securities will generally decrease and
gains on fixed income securities will likely be reduced. Losses are likely to be incurred following significant increases
in interest rates. General economic conditions, political conditions and many other factors can also adversely affect
the bond markets and, consequently, the value of the fixed income securities held.

At December 31, 2009, the fair value of the company’s investment portfolio included approximately $11.5 billion of
fixed income securities which are subject to interest rate risk. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the

78

market values of these securities. As interest rates rise, market values of fixed income portfolios decline, and vice
versa. The table below displays the potential impact on net earnings and other comprehensive income of market
value fluctuations caused by changes in interest rates on the company’s fixed income portfolio based on parallel
200 basis point shifts in interest rates up and down, in 100 basis point increments. This analysis was performed on
each security individually. Given the current economic and interest rate environment, the company believes a
200 basis point shift to be reasonably possible.

December 31, 2009

Change in Interest Rates

200 basis point increase

100 basis point increase

No change

100 basis point decrease

200 basis point decrease

December 31, 2008

Change in Interest Rates

200 basis point increase

100 basis point increase

No change

100 basis point decrease

200 basis point decrease

Hypothetical $ change
effect on:

Fair value of
fixed income
portfolio

Other
comprehensive
income

Net
earnings

Hypothetical
% change

9,689.3

10,535.9

11,468.4

12,434.0

13,521.5

(448.6)

(241.5)

–

268.9

585.7

(752.3)

(389.4)

–

384.1

806.0

(15.5)

(8.1)

–

8.4

17.9

Hypothetical $ change
effect on:

Fair value of
fixed income
portfolio

Other
comprehensive
income

Net
earnings

Hypothetical
% change

7,275.6

7,887.2

8,654.6

9,507.0

10,309.6

(275.4)

(154.1)

–

162.3

342.4

(474.9)

(262.5)

–

294.9

542.0

(15.9)

(8.9)

–

9.8

19.1

Computations of the prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on numerous assumptions,
including the maintenance of the level and composition of fixed income security assets at the indicated date, 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 prospective 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.

Market Price Fluctuations

The company’s investment portfolios are managed with a long term, value-oriented investment philosophy empha-
sizing downside protection. The company has policies to limit and monitor its individual issuer exposures and
aggregate equity exposure. Aggregate exposure to single issuers and total equity positions are monitored at the
subsidiary level and in aggregate at the company level.

At December 31, 2009, the company had aggregate equity and equity-related holdings of $6,156.5 (common stock of
$5,088.9, investments, at equity of $646.2 plus equity-related derivatives of $421.4) compared to aggregate equity
and equity-related holdings at December 31, 2008 of $4,816.5 (common stocks of $4,241.2 plus investments, at
equity of $575.3). As a result of the significant increase in the company’s equity and equity-related holdings, the
company’s exposure to equity price risk at December 31, 2009 had increased compared to December 31, 2008. The
company’s current financial risk management framework is able to manage the additional risk exposures.

During much of 2008 and immediately preceding years, the company had been concerned with the valuation level of
worldwide equity markets, uncertainty resulting from credit issues in the United States and global economic
conditions. As protection against a decline in equity markets, the company had held short positions effected by
way of equity index-based exchange-traded securities (including SPDRs), U.S. listed common stocks, equity total
return swaps and equity index total return swaps, referred to in the aggregate as the company’s equity hedges. The
company had purchased short term S&P 500 index call options to limit the potential loss on the U.S. equity index

79

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

total return swaps and the SPDRs short positions and to provide general protection against the short position in
common stocks. In November 2008, following significant declines in global equity markets, the company revised the
financial objectives of its economic hedging program on the basis of its assessment that the formerly elevated risks in
the global equity markets had moderated and subsequently closed substantially all of its equity hedge positions.
During the remainder of the fourth quarter of 2008, the company significantly increased its investments in equities
as a result of the opportunities presented by significant declines in equity valuations. During the third quarter of
2009, as a result of the rapid increase in the valuation level of equity markets, the company determined to protect a
portion of its equity and equity-related holdings against a potential decline in equity markets by way of short
positions effected through equity index total return swaps. At the inception of the short positions, the resulting
equity hedge ($1.5 billion notional amount at an average S&P 500 index value of 1,062.52) represented approx-
imately one-quarter of the company’s equity and equity-related holdings ($6,517.9). At December 31, 2009, as a
result of decreased equity and equity-related holdings of $6,156.5 and increased short positions, the equity hedges
had increased to approximately 30%. The company believes that the equity hedges will be reasonably effective in
protecting that proportion of the company’s equity and equity-related holdings to which the hedges relate, however,
due to a lack of a perfect correlation between the hedged items and the hedging items, combined with other market
uncertainties, it is not possible to estimate the reasonably likely future impact of the company’s economic hedging
programs related to equity risk.

The following table summarizes the effect of equity risk hedging instruments and related hedged items on the
company’s historical financial position and results of operations as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009 and
2008:

December 31, 2009

For the Year Ended December 31, 2009

Exposure/
notional value

Carrying
value

Other
comprehensive
income
(pre-tax)

Net earnings
(pre-tax)

Net equity
(pre-tax)

5,088.9
646.2

5,088.9
475.4

1,207.5
3.3

(91.5)
23.3

1,116.0
26.6

Equity exposures:
Common stocks
Investments, at equity
Derivatives and other invested assets:
Equity total return swaps – long

positions

Equity and equity index call options
Equity warrants

214.6
79.3
127.5

1.0
46.0
71.6

–
–
–

84.4
8.6
230.9

255.7

84.4
8.6
230.9

1,466.5

Total equity and equity related holdings

6,156.5

5,682.9

1,210.8

Hedging instruments:

Derivatives and other invested assets:
Equity total return swaps – short

positions

Equity index total return swaps – short

positions

(232.2)

(1,582.7)

(1,814.9)

1.2

(9.2)

(8.0)

–

–

–

(26.8)

(26.8)

(72.8)

(99.6)

(72.8)

(99.6)

Net exposure and financial effects

4,341.6

5,674.9

1,210.8

156.1

1,366.9

80

December 31, 2008

For the Year Ended December 31, 2008

Exposure/
notional value

Carrying
value

Other
comprehensive
income
(pre-tax)

Net earnings
(pre-tax)

Net equity
(pre-tax)

Equity exposures:
Common stocks
Investments, at equity

4,241.2
575.3

Total equity and equity related holdings

4,816.5

4,241.2
219.3

4,460.5

(484.8)
–

(484.8)

(970.3)
(49.4)

(1,455.1)
(49.4)

(1,019.7)

(1,504.5)

Hedging instruments:

Derivatives and other invested assets:

Equity index total return swaps – short

positions

Equity total return swaps – short

positions

S&P 500 index call options

–

(1.3)
(518.4)

(519.7)

–

–
–

–

–

–
–

–

1,349.4

1,349.4

731.6
(2.3)

731.6
(2.3)

2,078.7

2,078.7

Net exposure and financial effects

4,296.8

4,460.5

(484.8)

1,059.0

574.2

In the normal course of effecting its economic hedging strategy with respect to equity risk, the company expects that
there may be periods where the notional value of the hedging instruments may exceed or be deficient relative to the
company’s exposure to the items being hedged. This situation may arise when management compensates for
imperfect correlations between the hedging item and the hedged item or due to the timing of opportunities related to
the company’s ability to exit and enter hedges at attractive prices.

The table that follows summarizes the potential impact of a 10% change in the company’s year-end holdings of
equity and equity-related investments (including equity hedges where appropriate) on the company’s other com-
prehensive income and net earnings for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008. Based on an analysis of the 15-
year return on various equity indices and the company’s knowledge of global equity markets, a 10% variation is
considered reasonably possible. Certain shortcomings are inherent in the method of analysis presented, as the
analysis is based on the assumptions that the equity and equity-related holdings had increased/decreased by 10%
with all other variables held constant and that all the company’s equity and equity-related holdings move according
to a one-to-one correlation with global equity markets.

2009

2008

Effect on other
comprehensive income

Effect on
net earnings

Effect on other
comprehensive income

Effect on
net earnings

Change in global equity markets
10% increase
10% decrease

333.1
(333.1)

(89.5)
93.5

242.5
(242.5)

4.5
(4.5)

Generally, a 10% decline in global equity markets would decrease the value of the company’s equity and equity-
related holdings resulting in decreases, in the company’s other comprehensive income as the majority of the
company’s equity investment holdings are classified as available for sale. Conversely, a 10% increase in global equity
markets would generally increase the value of the company’s equity investment holdings resulting in increases in the
company’s other comprehensive income. For the year ended December 31, 2009, approximately 30% of the effect of
changes in global equity markets on other comprehensive income would have been offset by the effect on net
earnings resulting from the company’s equity hedges effected through short positions in equity index total return
swaps and equity total return swaps.

At December 31, 2009, the company’s common stock holdings in the ten issuers to which the company had the
greatest exposure was $3,371.1, which represented 15.8% of the total investment portfolio. The exposure to the
largest single issuer of common stock holdings held at December 31, 2009 was $540.0, which represented 2.5% of the
total investment portfolio.

81

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Foreign Currency Risk

Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value or cash flows of a financial instrument or another asset will
fluctuate because of changes in exchange rates and could produce an adverse effect on earnings and equity when
measured in a company’s functional currency. The company is exposed to foreign currency risk through transactions
conducted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, and also through its net investment in subsidiaries that have a
functional currency other than the U.S. dollar. Long and short foreign exchange forward contracts primarily
denominated in the pound sterling and the Canadian dollar are used to manage foreign currency exposure on
foreign currency denominated transactions. Foreign currency denominated liabilities are generally used to manage
the company’s foreign currency exposures to net investments in self-sustaining foreign operations having a func-
tional currency other than the U.S. dollar. The company’s exposure to foreign currency risk was not materially
different at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008, with the exception of the financial reporting hedge
implemented for a portion of the company’s net investment in Northbridge as described below.

The company’s foreign currency risk management objective is to mitigate the net earnings impact of foreign currency
rate fluctuations. The company has a process to accumulate, on a consolidated basis, all significant asset and liability
exposures relating to foreign currencies. These exposures are matched and any net unmatched positions, whether
long or short, are identified. The company may then take action to cure an unmatched position through the
acquisition of a derivative contract or the purchase or sale of investment assets denominated in the exposed currency.
Rarely does the company maintain an unmatched position for extended periods of time.

A portion of the company’s premiums are written in foreign currencies and a portion of the company’s loss reserves
are denominated in foreign currencies. Moreover, a portion of the company’s cash and investments are held in
currencies other than the U.S. dollar. In general, the company manages foreign currency risk on liabilities by
investing in financial instruments and other assets denominated in the same currency as the liabilities to which they
relate. The company also monitors the exposure of invested assets to foreign currency risk and limits these amounts
as deemed necessary. The company may nevertheless, from time to time, experience gains or losses resulting from
fluctuations in the values of these foreign currencies, which may favourably or adversely affect operating results.

In subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, and to the extent that subsidiary transacts business in
currencies other than the U.S. dollar, monetary assets and liabilities of that subsidiary, such as the provision for claims
and investments designated or classified as held for trading that are denominated in currencies other than the
U.S. dollar, are revalued at the balance sheet date spot foreign exchange rate, with any resulting unrealized gains and
losses recorded in the consolidated statement of earnings. Non-U.S. dollar denominated investments classified as
available for sale are revalued in the same manner, but resulting unrealized gains and losses are recorded in other
comprehensive income until realized, at which time the cumulative foreign exchange gain or loss is reclassified to net
gains on investments in the consolidated statement of earnings.

In subsidiaries where the functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar and where that subsidiary is considered to
be self-sustaining, unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses on monetary assets and liabilities will be recognized
in the same manner as described in the preceding paragraph when those monetary assets and liabilities are
denominated in a currency other than that subsidiary’s functional currency. The overall foreign currency exposure
embedded in a self-sustaining subsidiary arising on the translation from its functional currency to U.S. dollars is
deferred in the currency translation account in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of
shareholders’ equity, until such time as that subsidiary is wound up or sold to an unrelated third party.

At December 31, 2009, a reasonably possible 5% appreciation of the U.S. dollar relative to the primary currencies other
than the U.S. dollar in which the company’s operations are conducted (primarily the Canadian dollar, sterling and the
euro) would have increased the company’s pre-tax earnings by approximately $9.5 (2008 – decreased pre-tax earnings
by approximately $1.6), principally as a result of the effect of that appreciation on the non-U.S. dollar earnings of
Fairfax’s operating companies, but also by the additional effects of that appreciation on operating companies whose
functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar (for example, the Northbridge companies with U.S. dollar-denom-
inated claims reserves, whose functional currency is Canadian dollars). In addition, at December 31, 2009, a
reasonably possible 5% appreciation of the U.S. dollar as described above would have decreased pre-tax other
comprehensive income by approximately $41.6 (2008 – increased pre-tax other comprehensive loss by approximately
$67.6), partly because of the consequential revaluation of investments classified as available for sale, but principally as
a result of the change in other comprehensive income through the translation into U.S. dollars of the company’s net
investment in its self-sustaining operating companies whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar (for
example, Northbridge and CRC (Bermuda), both of whose functional currency is the Canadian dollar).

At December 31, 2009, a reasonably possible 5% depreciation of the U.S. dollar as described above would have, for the
reasons set out above, decreased the company’s pre-tax earnings by approximately $9.5 (2008 – increased pre-tax

82

earnings by approximately $1.6) and increased pre-tax other comprehensive income by approximately $41.6 (2008 –
decreased pre-tax other comprehensive loss by approximately $67.6).

At December 31, 2009, a reasonably possible 5% appreciation of the U.S. dollar as described above would have
increased the company’s net earnings by approximately $6.9 (a reasonably possible 5% depreciation of the U.S. dollar
would have decreased net earnings by approximately $6.9) and decreased other comprehensive income by approx-
imately $59.1 (a reasonably possible 5% depreciation of the U.S. dollar would have increased other comprehensive
income by approximately $59.1) for the reasons set out above.

In the preceding scenarios, certain shortcomings are inherent in the method of analysis presented, as the analysis is
based on the assumption that the 5% appreciation or depreciation of the U.S. dollar occurred with all other variables
held constant.

In 2009, Northbridge, which conducts business primarily in Canada, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax
pursuant to the privatization transactions described in note 18. As a self-sustaining operation with a Canadian dollar
functional currency, the net assets of Northbridge represent a significant foreign currency exposure to Fairfax. In keeping
with the company’s foreign currency risk management objective of mitigating the impact of foreign currency rate
fluctuations on its financial position, upon the completion of its issuance in August 2009 of Cdn$400.0 principal amount
of Canadian dollar denominated senior notes due August 19, 2019, the company designated the carrying value of these
notes as a hedge of a portion of its net investment in Northbridge for financial reporting purposes. For the year ended
December 31, 2009, the company recognized $18.3 of foreign currency movement on the senior notes in changes in gains
and losses on hedges of net investment in foreign subsidiary in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
The financial impact of the foreign currency movements deferred in the currency translation account in accumulated
other comprehensive income will remain deferred until such time that the net investment in Northbridge is reduced.

The company has also issued Cdn$450.0 par value of cumulative five-year rate reset preferred shares (Cdn$250.0 par
value of Series C preferred shares issued in 2009, and Cdn$200.0 par value of Series E preferred shares issued subsequent
to 2009 year-end in January 2010). Although not eligible to be designated as a hedge for financial reporting purposes,
the company considers this Cdn$450.0 as an additional economic hedge of its net investment in Northbridge.

Capital Management

The company’s capital management framework is designed to first protect its policyholders, then to protect its
bondholders and finally to optimize returns to shareholders. Effective capital management includes measures
designed to maintain capital above minimum regulatory levels, above levels required to satisfy issuer credit ratings
and financial strength ratings requirements, and above internally determined and calculated risk management
levels. Total capital at December 31, 2009, comprising shareholders’ equity and non-controlling interests, was
$7,736.6, compared to $6,351.6 at December 31, 2008. The company manages its capital based on the following
financial measurements and ratios:

December 31,
2009

2008

Holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities,

net of short sale and derivative obligations

Holding company debt
Subsidiary debt
Other long term obligations – holding company

Total debt

Net debt

Common shareholders’ equity
Preferred equity
Non-controlling interests

Total equity and non-controlling interests

Net debt/total equity and non-controlling interests
Net debt/net total capital(1)
Total debt/total capital(2)
Interest coverage(3)

1,242.7

1,555.0

1,236.9
903.4
173.5

869.6
910.2
187.7

2,313.8

1,967.5

1,071.1

7,391.8
227.2
117.6

412.5

4,866.3
102.5
1,382.8

7,736.6

6,351.6

13.8%
12.2%
23.0%
8.2x

6.5%
6.1%
23.7%

16.4x

(1) Net total capital is calculated by the company as the sum of total shareholders’ equity, non-controlling interests and net debt.

83

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

(2) Total capital is calculated by the company as the sum of total shareholders’ equity, non-controlling interests and total debt.

(3)

Interest coverage is calculated by the company as the sum of earnings (loss) from operations before income taxes and
interest expense divided by interest expense.

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. At December 31, 2009, 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 – each subsidiary had capital and surplus in excess of 5.3 times (2008 – 4.7 times)
the authorized control level, except for TIG which had 2.7 times (2008 – 2.4 times).

In Canada, property and casualty companies are regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial
Institutions on the basis of a minimum supervisory target of 150% of a minimum capital test (MCT) formula. At
December 31, 2009, Northbridge’s subsidiaries had a weighted average MCT ratio of 240% of the minimum statutory
capital required, compared to 224% at December 31, 2008, well in excess of the 150% minimum supervisory target.

In countries other than the U.S. and Canada where the company operates (the United Kingdom, France, Mexico,
Singapore, Hong Kong, Ireland, Poland and other jurisdictions), the company met or exceeded the applicable
regulatory capital requirements at December 31, 2009.

20. Segmented Information

The company is a financial services holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in property and
casualty insurance, conducted on a primary and reinsurance basis, and runoff operations, and was until December 31,
2007 engaged in insurance claims management. The company identifies its operating segments by operating
company consistent with its management structure. The company has aggregated certain of these operating
segments into reporting segments as subsequently described. The accounting policies of the reporting segments
are the same as those described in note 2. Transfer prices for inter-segment transactions are set at arm’s length.
Geographic premiums are determined based on the domicile of the various subsidiaries and where the primary
underlying risk of the business resides.

Insurance

Northbridge – Northbridge is a national commercial property and casualty insurer in Canada providing property and
casualty insurance products through its Commonwealth, Federated, Lombard and Markel subsidiaries, primarily in
the Canadian market and in selected United States and international markets.

Crum & Forster – Crum & Forster 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.

Fairfax Asia – Included in the Fairfax Asia reporting segment are the company’s operations that underwrite insurance
and reinsurance coverages in Singapore (First Capital) and Hong Kong (Falcon). Fairfax Asia includes the company’s
26% equity accounted interest in Mumbai-based ICICI Lombard and its 40.5% equity accounted interest in Thailand
(Falcon Thailand).

Reinsurance

OdysseyRe – OdysseyRe underwrites reinsurance, providing a full range of property and casualty products on a
worldwide basis, and underwrites specialty insurance, primarily in the United States and in the United Kingdom
directly and through the Lloyd’s of London marketplace.

Other – This reporting segment is comprised of Group Re, Advent and Polish Re. Group Re participates in the
reinsurance of Fairfax’s subsidiaries by quota share or through participation in those subsidiaries’ third party
reinsurance programs on the same terms as third party reinsurers through CRC (Bermuda) (Canadian business)
and Wentworth (international business). Group Re also writes third party business. Advent is included in the

84

Reinsurance – Other reporting segment effective from its acquisition by the company on September 11, 2008 and is a
reinsurance and insurance company, operating through Syndicate 780 at Lloyd’s, focused on specialty property
reinsurance and insurance risks. Polish Re is included in the Reinsurance – Other reporting segment effective from its
date of acquisition on January 7, 2009 and is a Polish reinsurance company.

Runoff

The runoff reporting segment comprises nSpire Re (which fully reinsures the U.K. and international runoff oper-
ations, conducted primarily through RiverStone (UK)) and the U.S. runoff company formed on the merger of TIG and
IIC combined with Old Lyme and Fairmont. The U.K. and international runoff operations have reinsured their
reinsurance portfolios to nSpire Re to provide consolidated investment and liquidity management services, with the
RiverStone Group retaining full responsibility for all other aspects of the business. The runoff reporting segment also
reflects the runoff of nSpire Re’s Group Re participation.

Effective January 1, 2008 nSpire Re (U.S. business) assets of approximately $142.6 were reclassified to the Runoff
reporting segment from Reinsurance – Other. Prior periods have not been restated to reflect this transfer.

Other

For the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Other reporting segment includes Ridley since its acquisition on
November 4, 2008. Ridley is engaged in the animal nutrition business and operates in the U.S. and Canada. For the
year ended December 31, 2007, the Other reporting segment comprised CLGI and its operating companies, which is
engaged in the claims adjusting, appraisal and loss management business. Following the sale at the end of 2007 of a
majority of the company’s interest in CLGI’s operating companies to CLGL pursuant to the transaction described in
note 18, the company commenced reporting its investment in 44.6% of CLGL on the equity method of accounting in
the Corporate and other reporting segment.

Corporate and Other

Corporate and Other includes the parent entity (Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited), its subsidiary intermediate
holding companies, Hamblin Watsa, an investment management company and MFXchange, a technology company.

Reporting Segment

An analysis of net earnings by reporting segment for the years ended December 31 is presented below:

2009

Insurance

Reinsurance

Northbridge

Crum &
Forster

Fairfax
Asia

OdysseyRe

Other

Ongoing
Operations

Runoff

Other

Corporate
and other

Eliminations
and
Adjustments

Net premiums earned
Underwriting expenses

969.2
(1,026.3)

781.3
(813.3)

116.0
(95.8)

1,927.4
(1,863.1)

628.1
(616.2)

4,422.0
(4,414.7)

Underwriting profit (loss)

(57.1)

(32.0)

Interest income
Dividends
Earnings (losses) on investments,

at equity

Investment expenses

96.8
24.9

0.1
(8.8)

90.6
34.4

4.7
(15.8)

Interest and dividends

113.0

113.9

Other

Revenue
Expenses

Operating income (loss) before:
Net gains (losses) on investments
Interest expense
Corporate overhead and other

Pre-tax income (loss)
Income taxes
Non-controlling interests

Net earnings

–
–

–

55.9
94.4
–
(19.8)

130.5

–
–

–

81.9
229.1
(27.8)
(3.3)

279.9

20.2

10.2
5.6

(4.6)
(2.2)

9.0

–
–

–

29.2
17.8
–
(2.3)

44.7

64.3

258.9
52.0

6.5
(33.8)

283.6

–
–

–

347.9
353.6
(31.0)
(25.8)

644.7

11.9

38.9
2.5

0.4
(4.3)

37.5

–
–

–

49.4
(25.8)
(5.1)
(13.1)

–
–

–

55.0
11.4

–
(12.0)

54.4

–
–

–

–
–

–
–

–

7.3

495.4
119.4

7.1
(64.9)

557.0

–
–

–

–
(152.4)

556.4
(544.0)

(152.4)

12.4

–
–

–

14.9
6.7

16.2
(1.4)

36.4

64.9
–

64.9

564.3
669.1
(63.9)
(64.3)

(98.0)
129.2
–
–

12.4
–
(1.0)
–

11.4

101.3
147.3
(101.4)
(88.3)

58.9

–
–

–

–
–

–
64.9

64.9

(64.9)
–

(64.9)

–
(1.1)
–
–

(1.1)

Consolidated

4,422.0
(4,414.7)

7.3

565.3
137.5

23.3
(13.4)

712.7

556.4
(696.4)

(140.0)

580.0
944.5
(166.3)
(152.6)

1,205.6
(214.9)
(133.9)

856.8

5.4

1,105.2

31.2

85

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

2008

Insurance

Reinsurance

Northbridge

Crum &
Forster

Fairfax
Asia

OdysseyRe

Other

Ongoing
operations

Runoff

Other

Corporate
and other

Eliminations
and
adjustments

Net premiums earned
Underwriting expenses

1,076.1
(1,114.0)

1,005.0
(1,182.2)

84.6
(77.7)

2,076.4
(2,104.1)

269.6
(314.6)

4,511.7
(4,792.6)

Underwriting profit (loss)

(37.9)

(177.2)

(27.7)

(45.0)

(280.9)

94.4
23.0

0.6
(10.1)

107.9

–
–

–

70.0
25.7
–
(14.5)

81.2

107.4
23.8

(32.2)
(12.8)

86.2

–
–

–

(91.0)
605.7
(28.3)
(8.8)

477.6

6.9

5.6
2.1

(4.9)
(1.2)

1.6

–
–

–

8.5
3.0
–
(5.5)

6.0

30.1
1.1

1.4
(2.5)

30.1

–
–

–

256.2
31.1

(13.2)
(23.8)

250.3

–
–

–

222.6
740.1
(34.2)
(13.9)

914.6

–
–

–

71.2
10.0

(4.2)
(8.8)

68.2

–
–

–

–
–

–
–

–

493.7
81.1

(48.3)
(50.4)

476.1

–
–

–

17.4
(192.8)

99.4
(98.0)

(175.4)

1.4

(14.9)
28.1
(2.6)
(1.9)

195.2
1,402.6
(65.1)
(44.6)

(107.2)
499.8
–
–

8.7

1,488.1

392.6

1.4
–
(0.4)
–

1.0

–
–

–

42.1
(15.1)

3.1
(1.3)

28.8

53.3
–

53.3

82.1
689.1
(93.1)
(94.7)

583.4

–
–

–

–
–

–
53.3

53.3

(53.3)
–

(53.3)

–
(20.8)
–
–

(20.8)

Interest income
Dividends
Earnings (losses) on investments, at

equity

Investment expenses

Interest and dividends

Other

Revenue
Expenses

Operating income (loss) before:
Net gains (losses) on investments
Interest expense
Corporate overhead and other

Pre-tax income (loss)
Income taxes
Non-controlling interests

Net earnings

2007

Net premiums earned
Underwriting expenses

Underwriting profit

Interest income
Dividends
Earnings (losses) on investments,

at equity

Investment expenses

Insurance

Reinsurance

Northbridge

Crum &
Forster

Fairfax
Asia

OdysseyRe

Other

Ongoing
operations

Runoff

Other

Corporate
and other

Eliminations
and
adjustments

1,017.1
(981.1)

1,187.4
(1,110.4)

68.7
(48.4)

2,120.5
(2,025.8)

258.4
(247.5)

4,652.1
(4,413.2)

36.0

105.1
19.1

3.9
(8.9)

77.0

20.3

116.8
20.9

9.7
1.2

3.7
(8.0)

7.3
(0.8)

Interest and dividends

119.2

133.4

17.4

Other

Revenue
Expenses

Operating income (loss) before:
Net gains (losses) on investments
Interest expense
Corporate overhead and other

Pre-tax income (loss)
Income taxes
Non-controlling interests

Net earnings

–
–

–

155.2
230.2
–
(12.4)

373.0

–
–

–

210.4
250.3
(51.0)
(9.6)

400.1

–
–

–

37.7
–
–
(3.5)

34.2

94.7

298.4
21.6

10.5
(21.2)

309.3

–
–

–

404.0
553.4
(37.7)
(12.6)

907.1

10.9

32.8
0.5

(3.4)
(4.8)

25.1

–
–

–

36.0
8.9
–
–

44.9

–
–

–

89.8
11.3

(1.1)
(8.4)

91.6

–
–

–

–
–

–
–

–

238.9

562.8
63.3

22.0
(43.7)

604.4

–
–

–

(3.3)
(177.5)

434.5
(401.5)

(180.8)

33.0

843.3
1,042.8
(88.7)
(38.1)

(89.2)
276.8
–
–

33.0
(7.6)
(15.7)
–

–
–

–

27.4
7.1

(13.2)
(2.0)

19.3

45.7
–

45.7

65.0
371.2
(105.1)
(110.0)

1,759.3

187.6

9.7

221.1

–
–

–

–
–

–
45.7

45.7

(45.7)
–

(45.7)

–
(17.3)
–
–

(17.3)

A reconciliation of total revenue of the reporting segments to the company’s consolidated revenue for the years
ended December 31 is presented below:

Revenues for reporting segments

Net premiums earned
Interest and dividends
Other revenue per reportable segment
Net gains on investments

Total consolidated revenues

86

2009

2008

2007

4,422.0
712.7
556.4
944.5

4,511.7
626.4
116.8
2,570.7

4,652.1
761.0
431.2
1,665.9

6,635.6

7,825.6

7,510.2

Consolidated

4,511.7
(4,792.6)

(280.9)

607.0
76.0

(49.4)
(7.2)

626.4

116.8
(290.8)

(174.0)

171.5
2,570.7
(158.6)
(139.3)

2,444.3
(755.6)
(214.9)

1,473.8

Consolidated

4,652.1
(4,413.2)

238.9

680.0
81.7

7.7
(8.4)

761.0

431.2
(579.0)

(147.8)

852.1
1,665.9
(209.5)
(148.1)

2,160.4
(711.1)
(353.5)

1,095.8

Reporting Segment

An analysis of significant non-cash items by reporting segment for the years ended December 31 is shown below:

Earnings (losses)
from investments,
at equity

Depreciation of
premises &
equipment &
amortization of
intangible assets

Impairment of
available for sale
securities

2009

2008

2007

2009

2008

2007

2009

2008

2007

0.1
4.7
(4.6)
6.5
0.4

7.1
–
–
16.2

23.3

0.6
(32.2)
(4.9)
(13.2)
1.4

(48.3)
(4.2)
–
3.1

3.9
3.7
7.3
10.5
(3.4)

22.0
(1.1)
–
(13.2)

(49.4)

7.7

8.8
4.3
0.5
4.6
0.1

18.3
1.2
8.5
7.8

35.8

3.5
3.8
0.7
6.6
–

14.6
1.7
0.7
5.4

22.4

6.8
1.3
0.5
9.5
–

18.1
2.1
4.3
2.5

27.0

54.1
106.1
1.1
119.1
19.0

299.4
29.8
–
10.8

279.0
198.0
1.9
370.1
8.9

857.9
76.5
–
77.4

19.5
26.5
–
59.7
–

105.7
3.3
–
–

340.0

1,011.8

109.0

Insurance

Reinsurance

– Canada (Northbridge)
– U.S. (Crum & Forster)
– Asia (Fairfax Asia)
– OdysseyRe
– Other

Ongoing operations
Runoff
Other
Corporate and other

Consolidated

During 2009, TIG commuted several reinsurance contracts and recorded a non-cash pre-tax charge of $3.6. Crum &
Forster commuted an aggregate stop loss contract in 2008 and recorded a non-cash pre-tax charge of $84.2.

An analysis of additions to goodwill, segment assets and investments, at equity by reporting segment for the years
ended December 31 is shown below:

Insurance

– Canada (Northbridge)
– U.S. (Crum & Forster)
– Asia (Fairfax Asia)

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

– Other

Ongoing operations
Runoff
Other
Corporate and other and eliminations and adjustments

Consolidated

Product Line

Additions
to goodwill
2009
2008

Segment assets
2009
2008

Investments,
at equity

2009

2008

80.6
–
–
72.9
13.8

167.3
–
–
–

–
–
–
3.8
–

3.8
–
16.7
–

5,235.2
5,039.7
807.6
10,831.2
2,004.0

4,383.2
5,363.9
641.8
9,961.1
1,538.4

5.8
53.4
93.5
115.8
5.2

23,917.7
4,913.7
205.1
(633.7)

273.7
21,888.4
39.4
5,483.6
227.8
–
(294.4) 162.3

2.5
17.4
75.4
36.7
–

132.0
–
–
87.3

167.3

20.5

28,402.8

27,305.4

475.4

219.3

An analysis of revenue by product line for years ended December 31 is presented below:

Property
2008

2009

2007

2009

Casualty
2008

2007

Automobile
2008

2009

2007

General liability
2008

2007

2009

Net premiums earned

Insurance

– Canada (Northbridge)

– U.S. (Crum & Forster)

– Asia (Fairfax Asia)

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

– Other

Ongoing operations

Runoff

249.6

115.9

9.5

375.4

133.3

256.1

242.8

10.7

227.6

342.9

10.7

–

–

–

130.2

117.7

103.9

11.3

11.0

9.0

439.6

126.3

26.7

498.3

187.2

9.4

477.6

210.7

6.4

197.0

184.8

11.8

368.1

359.9

35.8

26.5

–

3.7

0.4

0.8

(0.1)

182.5

186.0

211.3

413.3

–

130.3

73.8

81.3

70.9

234.6

196.5

6.4

583.0

78.9

238.7

227.8

5.9

591.0

103.9

883.7

913.5

967.6

145.2

129.9

112.8

905.4

954.7

987.3

877.8

1,099.4

1,167.3

(0.1)

(0.8)

(0.2)

(0.4)

(0.5)

0.3

(1.2)

0.2

0.5

0.1

4.8

(0.1)

Total net premiums earned

883.6

912.7

967.4

144.8

129.4

113.1

904.2

954.9

987.8

877.9

1,104.2

1,167.2

87

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Workers’
compensation

Marine and
aerospace

Insurance
Other

Reinsurance
non-proportional

2009

2008

2007

2009

2008

2007

2009

2008

2007

2009

2008

2007

2009

Total

2008

2007

Net premiums earned

Insurance

– Canada (Northbridge)

–

–

–

– U.S. (Crum & Forster)

188.3

219.8

261.0

– Asia (Fairfax Asia)

12.6

18.0

18.6

74.2

17.2

37.2

77.9

20.0

23.8

64.4

21.7

13.9

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

– Other

0.5

0.1

3.7

18.1

105.6

113.9

124.7

(1.7)

3.8

35.7

8.8

2.0

8.9

9.1

8.7

(0.1)

0.1

0.1

969.2

1,076.1

1,017.1

18.6

21.0

19.4

6.9

65.8

14.9

5.3

69.8

8.3

4.2

74.2

10.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

781.3

1,005.0

1,187.4

116.0

84.6

68.7

784.3

751.5

741.4

1,927.4

2,076.4

2,120.5

239.2

64.9

30.8

628.1

269.6

258.4

Ongoing operations

201.5

239.8

301.5

269.9

244.4

226.7

115.1

113.5

116.6

1,023.4

816.5

772.3

4,422.0

4,511.7

4,652.1

Runoff

1.5

12.4

(4.1)

–

0.8

–

–

0.4

0.3

0.1

0.1

–

–

17.4

(3.3)

Total net premiums earned

203.0

252.2

297.4

269.9

245.2

226.7

115.1

113.9

116.9

1,023.5

816.6

772.3

4,422.0

4,529.1

4,648.8

Interest and dividends

Net gains on investments

Other

Total consolidated revenues

Geographic Region

An analysis of revenue by geographic region for the years ended December 31 is shown below:

Canada
2008

2009

2007

United States
2008

2009

2007

International
2008

2009

2007

712.7

626.4

761.0

944.5

2,570.7

1,665.9

556.4

99.4

434.5

6,635.6

7,825.6

7,510.2

Total
2008

2009

2007

Net premiums earned

Insurance

– Canada (Northbridge)

910.9

1,024.5

974.5

58.3

51.3

40.7

– U.S. (Crum & Forster)

– Asia (Fairfax Asia)

–

–

–

–

–

–

781.3

1,005.0

1,187.4

–

–

–

116.0

84.6

68.7

116.0

84.6

68.7

–

–

0.3

–

1.9

–

969.2

1,076.1

1,017.1

781.3

1,005.0

1,187.4

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

– Other

Ongoing operations

Runoff

Interest and dividends

Net gains on investments

Other

Total consolidated revenues

38.6

178.7

41.2

161.5

42.7

1,094.4

1,154.1

1,227.9

794.4

881.1

849.9

1,927.4

2,076.4

2,120.5

204.1

241.8

88.3

49.3

207.6

19.8

5.0

628.1

269.6

258.4

1,128.2

1,227.2

1,221.3

2,175.8

2,298.7

2,505.3

1,118.0

985.8

925.5

4,422.0

4,511.7

4,652.1

0.2

(0.2)

–

(0.2)

17.6

(3.3)

–

–

–

–

17.4

(3.3)

1,128.4

1,227.0

1,221.3

2,175.6

2,316.3

2,502.0

1,118.0

985.8

925.5

4,422.0

4,529.1

4,648.8

712.7

626.4

761.0

944.5

2,570.7

1,665.9

556.4

99.4

434.5

6,635.6

7,825.6

7,510.2

Allocation of revenue

25.5%

27.1%

26.3%

49.2%

51.1%

53.8%

25.3% 21.8% 19.9%

88

21. US GAAP Reconciliation

The consolidated financial statements of the company have been prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP
which are different in some respects from those applicable in the United States, as described below.

Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings and Comprehensive Income

The following table presents the net earnings and the comprehensive income for the years ended December 31 in
accordance with US GAAP:

Net earnings, Canadian GAAP
Non-controlling interests(a)
Recoveries on retroactive reinsurance(b)
Equity accounting(c)
Repurchase of subsidiary securities(d)
Northbridge step acquisitions(e)
OdysseyRe step acquisition(f)
Other differences(g)
Tax effects(h)

Net earnings, US GAAP

Net earnings attributable to non-controlling interests, US GAAP

2009

856.8

133.9

14.9

3.6

(16.9)

(1.9)

17.0

–

(11.0)

2008

2007

1,473.8

1,095.8

214.9

30.8

(7.2)

–

–

–

353.5

16.0

–

–

–

–

8.8

(9.6)

(11.1)

(2.5)

996.4

1,711.5

1,451.7

(136.1)

(216.2)

(353.0)

Net earnings attributable to parent company, US GAAP

860.3

1,495.3

1,098.7

Earnings per share, US GAAP

Earnings per diluted share, US GAAP

Other comprehensive income (loss), Canadian GAAP
Non-controlling interests(a)
Equity accounting(c)
Northbridge step acquisitions(e)
OdysseyRe step acquisition(f)
Pension liability adjustment(i)
Other differences

Tax effects

$ 44.18

$ 81.57

$ 61.37

$ 43.95

$ 80.71

$ 58.54

968.1

106.2

(3.7)

(7.1)

(18.3)

(8.3)

–

(3.8)

(468.3)

(77.1)

298.8

66.1

–

–

–

32.1

–

(6.8)

–

–

–

28.9

2.4

(6.3)

Other comprehensive income (loss), US GAAP

1,033.1

(520.1)

389.9

Other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests,

US GAAP

(104.5)

77.1

(66.1)

Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent company, US GAAP

928.6

(443.0)

323.8

Net earnings, US GAAP

Other comprehensive income (loss), US GAAP

Comprehensive income, US GAAP

996.4

1,711.5

1,451.7

1,033.1

(520.1)

389.9

2,029.5

1,191.4

1,841.6

Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests, US GAAP

(240.6)

(139.1)

(419.1)

Comprehensive income attributable to parent company, US GAAP

1,788.9

1,052.3

1,422.5

89

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The effect of the significant differences between consolidated net earnings under Canadian GAAP and consolidated
net earnings under US GAAP are as follows:

(a) Under Canadian GAAP, consolidated net earnings and consolidated other comprehensive income do not
include the portions attributable to the non-controlling interests. Under US GAAP, consolidated net
earnings and consolidated other comprehensive income include the portions attributable to both the
parent and non-controlling interests. Separate disclosure of the portions attributable to the parent and to
the non-controlling interests is required.

On January 1, 2009, the company adopted the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”)
No. 160, Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51
(now known as Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”)
810-10, Consolidation (“FASB ASC 810-10”)). FASB ASC 810-10 provides guidance on the treatment of a
non-controlling interest after acquisition in a business combination. This new standard requires: a non-
controlling interest to be presented clearly in equity, but separately from the parent’s equity; the amount of
consolidated net income and other comprehensive income attributable to the parent and to a non-
controlling interest to be clearly identified and included in the consolidated statements of income and
consolidated statements of other comprehensive income respectively; and accounting for changes in
ownership interests of a subsidiary that do not result in a loss or acquisition of control as an equity
transaction. In accordance with the transitional guidance, the company has applied FASB ASC 810-10 on a
prospective basis under US GAAP, except for the adjustment on a retroactive basis of net income and
comprehensive income to include the portion attributed to the non-controlling interests and the reclas-
sification of the non-controlling interests to equity. Under Canadian GAAP, non-controlling interests are
excluded from shareholders’ equity and net earnings.

(b) Under Canadian GAAP, recoveries on certain stop loss reinsurance treaties are recorded at the same time as
the claims incurred are ceded. Under US GAAP, 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 deferred gain is amortized to income over the estimated
settlement period over which the company expects to receive the recoveries and is recorded in accounts
payable and accrued liabilities.

Included in recoveries on retroactive reinsurance for the year ended December 31, 2008 is pre-tax income of
$8.8 related to the release of the unamortized deferred gain in connection with the commutation by
Crum & Forster in the second quarter as described in note 7. The non-cash pre-tax charge under US GAAP
related to this commutation was therefore $75.4.

The fourth quarter of 2008 reflects pre-tax income of $11.8 related to the release of a portion of an
unamortized deferred gain caused by a decrease in the losses ceded to the underlying retroactive reinsur-
ance contract.

(c) Under Canadian GAAP, certain of the company’s investments in partnership trusts that do not have a
quoted price in an active market are accounted for on the cost basis. Canadian GAAP requires the use of the
equity method of accounting when the company is deemed to exert significant influence over the investee,
whereas US GAAP requires the use of the equity method to account for such investments when the equity
interest is more than minor. As a result of these differing requirements, a pre-tax income of $3.6 was
recognized in 2009 (2008 – pre-tax loss of $7.2) under US GAAP for company’s investments in certain
partnership trusts, whereas under Canadian GAAP, these investments were recorded at cost.

(d) Under Canadian GAAP, the repurchase by OdysseyRe of its common shares during 2009 as described in
note 18 was accounted for as a step acquisition. Under US GAAP, pursuant to the adoption by the company
on January 1, 2009 of FASB ASC 810-10, changes in ownership interests of a subsidiary that do not result in a
loss or acquisition of control are accounted for as equity transactions. Under Canadian GAAP, the excess of
the fair value of net assets acquired over the cost of the acquisition is recognized in consolidated net
earnings. As a result, the gain of $16.9 recognized in connection with the repurchase of common shares by
OdysseyRe under Canadian GAAP was charged to cumulative reduction in retained earnings under US
GAAP.

90

(e) Under Canadian GAAP, the privatization of Northbridge was accounted for as two separate step acquisitions
of the outstanding common shares of Northbridge. Under US GAAP, pursuant to the adoption by the
company on January 1, 2009 of FASB ASC 810-10, changes in ownership interests of a subsidiary that do not
result in a loss or acquisition of control are accounted for as equity transactions. Under Canadian GAAP, the
step acquisition accounting for the privatization of Northbridge recognized fair value adjustments to the
assets and liabilities acquired (note 18) which are generally released or amortized into comprehensive
income in the future. These fair value adjustments to assets and liabilities are not recognized under US
GAAP. Fair value adjustments of $1.9 and $7.1 which increased pre-tax net earnings and other compre-
hensive income under Canadian GAAP for the year ended December 31, 2009 are not recognized in
comprehensive income under US GAAP.

(f) Under Canadian GAAP, the privatization of OdysseyRe was accounted for as a step acquisition of the
outstanding common shares of OdysseyRe. Under US GAAP, pursuant to the adoption by the company on
January 1, 2009 of FASB ASC 810-10, changes in ownership interests of a subsidiary that do not result in a
loss or acquisition of control are accounted for as equity transactions. Under Canadian GAAP, the step
acquisition for the privatization of OdysseyRe recognized fair value adjustments to the assets and liabilities
acquired (note 18) which are generally released or amortized into comprehensive income in the future.
These fair value adjustments to assets and liabilities are not recognized under US GAAP. Fair value
adjustments of $17.0 which decreased pre-tax net earnings and $18.3 which increased pre-tax other
comprehensive income under Canadian GAAP for the year ended December 31, 2009 are not recognized in
comprehensive income under US GAAP.

(g)

Included in other differences for the year ended December 31, 2008 is income of $5.2 related to the release
of a reserve for an uncertain tax provision established on January 1, 2007 which was resolved at Decem-
ber 31, 2008.

Included in other differences for the year ended December 31, 2007 are cost base adjustments to the
company’s investment in Hub related to the valuation of embedded derivatives of $12.7 which reduced the
realized gain on sale from $220.5 under Canadian GAAP to $207.8 under US GAAP.

(h) Differences between consolidated net earnings under Canadian GAAP and consolidated net earnings under

US GAAP are shown net of the following provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31:

Recoveries on retroactive reinsurance(b)
Northbridge step acquisitions

OdysseyRe step acquisitions
Equity accounting(c)
Other differences(f)

2009

2008

2007

(5.2)

(10.7)

(5.6)

0.2

(5.9)

(0.1)

–

–

–

1.1

–

–

–

–

3.1

(11.0)

(9.6)

(2.5)

(i)

Effective December 31, 2006, US GAAP required the recognition of a net liability or asset to report the
funded status of a company’s defined benefit pension and other post retirement benefit plans on its balance
sheet with an offsetting adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity.
This adjustment records the change in pension balances for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008
and 2007.

91

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Consolidated Balance Sheets

The following table presents the consolidated balance sheet amounts in accordance with US GAAP, setting out
individual amounts where different from the amounts reported under Canadian GAAP:

Assets

Holding company cash, short term

investments and marketable securities(i)

Portfolio investments:
Common stocks(i)
Investments, at equity(i)

All other portfolio investments

Future income taxes(ii)
Goodwill and intangible assets(iii)(vi)(vii)

All other assets

Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities(iv)

All other liabilities

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Canadian

Canadian

GAAP Differences US GAAP

GAAP Differences US GAAP

1,251.6

(1.7)

1,249.9

1,564.2

–

1,564.2

4,853.1

475.4

14,750.1

318.7

438.8

6,315.1

(144.9)

124.8

–

89.3

(265.4)

4,708.2

3,816.9

600.2

219.3

(257.8)

251.9

3,559.1

471.2

14,750.1

14,378.8

–

14,378.8

408.0

173.4

699.4

123.2

–

6,315.1

6,503.6

56.1

29.6

–

755.5

152.8

6,503.6

28,402.8

(197.9)

28,204.9

27,305.4

79.8

27,385.2

1,202.2

19,299.6

130.8

1,333.0

1,326.5

152.0

1,478.5

–

19,299.6

19,457.5

–

19,457.5

20,501.8

130.8

20,632.6

20,784.0

152.0

20,936.0

Mandatorily redeemable shares of TRG
Non-controlling interests(v)

164.4

117.6

282.0

(117.6)

(117.6)

–

164.4

169.8

–

–

1,382.8

(1,382.8)

169.8

–

164.4

1,552.6

(1,382.8)

169.8

Equity

7,619.0

(211.1)

7,407.9

4,968.8

1,310.6

6,279.4

28,402.8

(197.9)

28,204.9

27,305.4

79.8

27,385.2

The difference in consolidated shareholders’ equity was as follows:

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Total

Parent
company

Non -
controlling
interests

Total

Parent
company

Non -
controlling
interests

Shareholders’ equity based on Canadian GAAP

7,619.0

7,619.0

–

4,968.8

4,968.8

–

Non-controlling interests(v)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

117.6

(60.6)

–

117.6

1,382.8

–

1,382.8

(58.9)

(1.7)

(19.4)

(19.4)

–

Cumulative reduction in retained earnings under

US GAAP

(268.1)

(268.1)

–

(52.8)

(50.6)

(2.2)

Equity based on US GAAP

7,407.9

7,292.0

115.9

6,279.4

4,898.8

1,380.6

92

The difference in consolidated accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) was as follows:

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Parent
company

Non -
controlling
interests

Total

Parent
company

Non -
controlling
interests

Pension liability adjustment
Northbridge step acquisitions(iii)
OdysseyRe step acquisition(vi)
Equity accounting

Related deferred income taxes

Total

(37.6)

(7.1)

(18.3)

(3.7)

6.1

(35.1)

(7.1)

(18.3)

(3.7)

5.3

(2.5)

(29.3)

(29.3)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.8

9.9

9.9

(60.6)

(58.9)

(1.7)

(19.4)

(19.4)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) relating to defined benefit pension and
other post retirement benefit plans consisted of:

Net actuarial loss

Prior service costs

Transitional amounts

Total

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Parent
company

Non -
controlling
interests

Total

Parent
company

Non -
controlling
interests

Total

(44.7)

3.5

3.6

(41.6)

(3.1)

(34.3)

(34.3)

2.9

3.6

0.6

–

3.7

1.3

3.7

1.3

(37.6)

(35.1)

(2.5)

(29.3)

(29.3)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

The cumulative reduction in retained earnings under US GAAP was as follows:

Northbridge step acquisitions(iii)
OdysseyRe step acquisition(vi)
Recoveries on retroactive reinsurance

Equity accounting

Purchase price allocation on the acquisition of
TIG Re (now part of OdysseyRe) in 1999(vii)

December 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

Total

Parent
company

(150.4)

(150.4)

(78.1)

(69.2)

(2.6)

(78.1)

(69.2)

(2.6)

32.2

32.2

(268.1)

(268.1)

Non -
controlling
interests

Total

Parent
company

Non -
controlling
interests

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(78.9)

(6.1)

(78.9)

(3.9)

32.2

32.2

(52.8)

(50.6)

–

–

–

(2.2)

–

(2.2)

(i) Under Canadian GAAP, the company’s investment of $54.5 (2008 – $177.1) in partnership trusts that do not
have a quoted price in an active market are accounted for on the cost basis, whereas US GAAP requires use of
the equity method to account for such investments.

Under Canadian GAAP, the company’s investment of $92.1 (2008 – $80.7) in limited partnerships whose fair
value can be reliably measured are recorded in the consolidated balance sheet as common stocks designated
as held for trading, whereas US GAAP requires use of the equity method to account for such investments.

(ii) The difference is comprised principally of deferred tax adjustments related to: the unamortized deferred gain
on retroactive reinsurance contracts of $37.2 (2008 – $42.4); the Northbridge step acquisitions of $29.3
(2008 – nil) ; the OdysseyRe step acquisitions of $13.3 (2008 – nil); and the pension liability adjustment of
$5.9 (2008 – $9.9).

(iii) Under Canadian GAAP, the privatization of Northbridge was accounted for as two separate step acquisitions
of the outstanding common shares of Northbridge. Under US GAAP, pursuant to the adoption by the
company on January 1, 2009 of FASB ASC 810-10, changes in ownership interests of a subsidiary that do not
result in a loss or acquisition of control are accounted for as equity transactions. Under Canadian GAAP, the
step acquisition accounting for the privatization of Northbridge recognized fair value adjustments to the
assets and liabilities acquired and goodwill (note 18). These fair value adjustments to assets and liabilities

93

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

and goodwill are not recognized under US GAAP. As a result, an amount of $147.9 was charged to the
cumulative reduction in retained earnings under US GAAP representing the excess of the cost of the
acquisition of $546.4 over the carrying value of the non-controlling interest of $398.5.

(iv) The difference is comprised of the unamortized deferred gain on retroactive reinsurance contracts of $106.4

(2008 – $121.3) and the pension liability adjustment of $24.4 (2008 – $30.7).

(v) Under Canadian GAAP, non-controlling interests are presented between liabilities and shareholders’ equity
on the consolidated balance sheet. Under US GAAP, pursuant to the adoption by the company on January 1,
2009 of FASB ASC 810-10, non-controlling interests are presented within equity, but separately from the
parent’s equity.

(vi) Under Canadian GAAP, the privatization of OdysseyRe was accounted for as a step acquisition of the
outstanding common shares of OdysseyRe. Under US GAAP, pursuant to the adoption by the company on
January 1, 2009 of FASB ASC 810-10, changes in ownership interests of a subsidiary that do not result in a loss
or acquisition of control are accounted for as equity transactions. Under Canadian GAAP, the step acqui-
sition accounting for the privatization of OdysseyRe recognized fair value adjustments to the assets and
liabilities acquired and goodwill (note 18). These fair value adjustments to assets and liabilities and goodwill
are not recognized under US GAAP. As a result, an amount of $89.2 was charged to the cumulative reduction
in retained earnings under US GAAP representing the excess of the cost of the acquisition of $1,017.0 and
liabilities assumed related to the amendment of OdysseyRe’s employee compensation plans of $22.4 over
the carrying value of the non-controlling interest of $950.2.

(vii) Under Canadian GAAP, foreign exchange losses realized on foreign exchange contracts that hedged the
acquisition funding for TIG Re in 1999 (now part of OdysseyRe) were included in the purchase price
equation and recorded as goodwill. Under U.S. GAAP these foreign exchange contracts were not considered
a hedge and as a result, the goodwill recognized under Canadian GAAP has been reclassified as a cumulative
reduction in retained earnings under US GAAP.

Statements of Cash Flows

The following table presents the statements of cash flows in accordance with US GAAP, setting out individual
amounts where different from the amounts reported under Canadian GAAP:

Operating activities
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

Investing activities

Purchases of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired(i)
All other investing activities

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

Financing activities

Purchases of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired(i)
All other financing activities

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

Foreign currency translation

Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period

Cash and cash equivalents – end of period

Year Ended December 31, 2009

Canadian

GAAP Differences US GAAP

(719.2)

–

(719.2)

(1,643.6)
909.2

1,618.5
–

(734.4)

1,618.5

(25.1)
909.2

884.1

–
993.0

(1,618.5)
–

(1,618.5)
993.0

993.0

(1,618.5)

(625.5)

91.8

(368.8)
2,525.7

2,156.9

–

–
–

–

91.8

(368.8)
2,525.7

2,156.9

(i) Under Canadian GAAP, the privatizations of Northbridge, OdysseyRe and Advent were accounted for as
investing activities. Under US GAAP, pursuant to the adoption by the company on January 1, 2009 of FASB

94

ASC 810-10, changes in ownership interests of a subsidiary that do not result in a loss or acquisition of
control are accounted for as equity transactions and presented in the statement of cash flows as a financing
activity. There were no significant differences between the consolidated statements of cash flows prepared
under Canadian GAAP compared to US GAAP for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

Other accounting pronouncements adopted in 2009

On December 16, 2009, the company adopted FASB Staff Positions (“FSP”) FAS 132(R)-1, Employers’ Disclosures
about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets (now known as FASB ASC 715-20, Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit
Plans (“FASB ASC 715-20”)). FASB ASC 715-20 requires enhanced disclosures regarding the major categories of plan
assets, concentrations of risk, inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets and the
effect of using unobservable inputs (Level 3 classification under FASB ASC 820-10). The adoption of FASB ASC 715-20
did not have any significant impact on the company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations under
US GAAP. Additional disclosures about defined benefit pension plan assets are included in note 15.

On October 1, 2009, the company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-05, Fair Value Measurements and
Disclosures (Topic 820) – Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value (“ASU 2009-05”). The amendments in ASU 2009-05
provide clarification that, in circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not
available, a reporting entity is required to measure fair value using another valuation technique that is consistent
with the principles of Topic 820. The adoption of ASU 2009-05 did not have any significant impact on the company’s
consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures under US GAAP.

In August 2009, the company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-04, Accounting for Redeemable
Equity Instruments, (“ASU 2009-04”). The amendments in ASU 2009-04 provide the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) staff’s views on the accounting for redeemable equity instruments. The adoption of ASU
2009-04 did not have any significant impact on the company’s financial position, results of operations and
disclosures under US GAAP.

On July 1, 2009, the company adopted SFAS No. 168, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy
of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162 (“SFAS 168”) (now known as
FASB ASC 105-10, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“FASB ASC 105-10”)). The Codification is officially the
single source of authoritative non-governmental US GAAP, superseding FASB, American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, Emerging Issues Task Force, and related accounting literature. Henceforth, only one level of author-
itative GAAP exists: all other accounting literature are considered non-authoritative. The Codification reorganizes
the thousands of GAAP pronouncements into roughly 90 accounting topics and displays them using a consistent
structure. Also included in the Codification is relevant SEC guidance organized using the same topical structure in
separate sections within the Codification. As FASB ASC 105-10 is not intended to change or alter existing US GAAP,
the adoption of FASB ASC 105-10 did not have any significant impact on the company’s consolidated financial
position, results of operations and disclosures under US GAAP.

On April 1, 2009, the company adopted SFAS No. 165, Subsequent Events (now known as FASB ASC 855-10,
Subsequent Events (“FASB ASC 855-10”)), which established the general standards of accounting for and disclosure of
events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or available to be issued. The
company has evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date of December 31, 2009 through March 5, 2010,
the date the financial statements were issued. During this period, the company identified the following subsequent
events requiring recognition or disclosure in its consolidated financial statements: the completion of a public equity
offering of 563,381 subordinate voting shares for net proceeds of $199.8 (note 11); the completion of a public offering
of 8,000,000 Series E preferred shares for net proceeds of $183.1 (Cdn$195.3) (note 11); and the offer to acquire all of
the outstanding shares of Zenith common stock other than those shares already held by Fairfax and its affiliates
(note 18).

On April 1, 2009, the company adopted the following three FSPs issued on April 9, 2009, which are intended to
provide additional application guidance and enhance disclosures regarding fair value measurements and impair-
ments of securities:

(i)

FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other Than Temporary Impairments (now
known as FASB ASC 320-10, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities (“FASB ASC 320-10”)) amends the
other than temporary impairment guidance in US GAAP for debt securities to make the guidance more

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operational and to improve the presentation and disclosure of other than temporary impairments on debt
and equity securities in the financial statements. The recognition provision within FASB ASC 320-10 applies
only to debt securities that are other than temporarily impaired. If the company intends to sell or it is more
likely than not that it will be required to sell a security in an unrealized loss position prior to recovery of its
cost basis, the security is other than temporarily impaired and the full amount of the impairment is
recognized as a loss through earnings. If the company asserts that it does not intend to sell and it is more
likely than not that it will not be required to sell an other than temporarily impaired security before recovery
of its cost basis, the impairment must be separated into credit and non-credit components with the credit
portion of the other than temporary impairment recognized as a loss through earnings and the non-credit
portion recognized in other comprehensive income.

FASB ASC 320-10 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. The
adoption of FASB ASC 320-10 effective April 1, 2009 did not affect the company’s consolidated financial
position or results of operations under US GAAP. FASB ASC 320-10 requires that the company record, as of
the beginning of the interim period of adoption, a cumulative effect adjustment to reclassify the non-credit
component of a previously recognized other than temporary impairment on debt securities which are still
held as investments at the date of adoption from retained earnings to accumulated other comprehensive
income. The company reviewed other than temporary impairments it had previously recorded through
earnings on debt securities held at April 1, 2009 and determined that all of these other than temporary
impairments were related to specific credit losses, resulting in no cumulative effect adjustment to opening
retained earnings or accumulated other comprehensive income as of April 1, 2009.

(ii) FSP FAS 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have
Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly (now known as FASB ASC 820-10,
Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“FASB ASC 820-10”)) provides additional guidance on estimating
the fair value of an asset or liability when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have
significantly decreased and on identifying transactions that are not orderly. FASB ASC 820-10 is effective for
interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of FASB ASC 820-10 effective
April 1, 2009 did not have any significant impact on the company’s consolidated financial position, results
of operations and disclosures under US GAAP.

(iii) FSP FAS 107-1 and Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) 28-1, Interim Disclosures about Fair Value Mea-
surement, which amends FASB Statement No. 107, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,
and APB Opinion No. 28, Interim Financial Reporting, (now known as FASB ASC 825-10, Financial
Instruments (“FASB ASC 825-10”)) requires disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments for
interim reporting periods. FASB ASC 825-10 also requires companies to disclose the methods and significant
assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments in financial statements on an interim
basis and to describe any changes during the period. FASB ASC 825-10 is effective for interim and annual
reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of FASB ASC 825-10 effective April 1, 2009 did
not have any significant impact on the company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and
disclosures under US GAAP. The fair value of the company’s long term debt and other long term obligations
is disclosed in note 9.

On January 1, 2009, the company adopted SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (now known as FASB
ASC 805-10, Business Combinations (“FASB ASC 805-10”)), which replaces SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations
(“SFAS 141”). FASB ASC 805-10 retains the fundamental requirements of SFAS 141 to identify an acquirer and to use
the acquisition method of accounting for each business combination. This new standard requires: measurement of
share consideration issued at fair value at the acquisition date; recognition of contingent consideration at fair value at
the date of acquisition with subsequent changes in fair value generally reflected in net earnings; and the acquirer to
expense acquisition-related costs as incurred. A non-controlling interest must be measured at fair value. Under
Canadian GAAP, a non-controlling interest is recorded at the proportionate share of the carrying value of the
acquiree. In accordance with the transitional guidance, the company has applied FASB ASC 805-10 on a prospective
basis under US GAAP.

On January 1, 2009, the company adopted FSP FAS 141(R)-1, Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed
in a Business Combination that Arise from Contingencies (now known as FASB ASC 805-10, Business Combinations –
Overall (“FASB ASC 805-10”) and FASB ASC 805-20, Business Combinations – Identifiable Assets and Liabilities, and

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Any Non-Controlling Interests (“FASB ASC 805-20”)), which amends the provisions related to the initial recognition
and measurement, subsequent measurement and disclosure of assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in a
business combination. The adoption of FASB ASC 805-10 and FASB ASC 805-20 on January 1, 2009 did not affect the
company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations under US GAAP.

On January 1, 2009, SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an Amendment
of FASB Statement No. 133 (now known as FASB ASC 815-10, Derivatives and Hedging (“FASB ASC 815-10”)) became
effective. The intent of FASB ASC 815-10 is to improve the financial reporting of derivative instruments and hedging
activities by requiring enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how
derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under FASB ASC 815-10 and its related inter-
pretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position,
financial performance and cash flows. Since FASB ASC 815-10 requires only additional disclosures concerning
derivatives and hedging activities, the adoption of FASB ASC 815-10 on January 1, 2009 did not affect the company’s
consolidated financial position or results of operations under US GAAP. The enhanced disclosures required by
FASB ASC 815-10 are included in note 19.

On January 1, 2009, the company adopted FSP APB 14-1, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be
Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement) (now known as FASB ASC 470-20, Debt – Debt
with Conversion and Other Options (“FASB ASC 470-20”), FASB ASC 815-15, Derivatives and Hedging – Embedded
Derivatives (“FASB ASC 815-15”) and FASB ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments (“FASB ASC 825-10”)), and applied it
on a retrospective basis to its 5.0% convertible senior debentures due 2023. These debentures were converted by their
holders into subordinate voting shares of the company on February 13, 2008. With the adoption of this new
guidance, Canadian GAAP and US GAAP are converged with respect to accounting for convertible debt with options
to settle partially or fully in cash. The retrospective application of this new guidance resulted in the elimination of the
previous US GAAP adjustment related to the company’s 5.0% convertible senior debentures due 2023, which had
decreased common stock under Canadian GAAP by $6.6 with a corresponding increase in the cumulative reduction
in retained earnings under US GAAP.

Recent accounting pronouncements

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R) (now known as FASB ASC
810-10, Consolidation (“FASB ASC 810-10”)), to replace the quantitative-based risks and rewards calculation for
determining which enterprise has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity with an approach
focused on identifying which enterprise has (1) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most
significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the
right to receive benefits from the entity. It also requires an additional reconsideration event when determining
whether an entity is a variable interest entity when any changes in fact and circumstances occur and ongoing
assessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. Additional disclosures
about an enterprise’s involvement in variable interest entities are also required. FASB ASC 810-10 will be effective as of
the beginning of the reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim
periods within that first annual reporting period and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter. The
company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of FASB ASC 810-10 on its consolidated financial
position, results of operations and disclosures under US GAAP.

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22. Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities

Changes in the company’s operating assets and liabilities for the years ended December 31 in the consolidated
statements of cash flows were comprised as follows:

Provision for claims
Unearned premiums
Accounts receivable and other
Recoverable from reinsurers
Funds withheld payable to reinsurers
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Income taxes payable
Other

2009
(661.3)
(135.4)
50.0
514.7
(0.2)
12.5
(579.4)
34.3

2008
24.8
(200.0)
292.1
582.5
(25.6)
(146.0)
614.0
50.9

2007
(952.9)
(172.4)
19.9
665.2
(28.3)
67.1
67.8
(19.8)

Change in operating assets and liabilities

(764.8) 1,192.7

(353.4)

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

(as of March 5, 2010 except as otherwise indicated)

(Figures and amounts are in US$ and $ millions except per share amounts and as otherwise indicated. Figures may not add due
to rounding.)

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. Additional
information relating to the company, including its annual information form, can be found on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com, which can also be accessed from the company’s website www.fairfax.ca.

(2) Management analyzes and assesses the underlying insurance, reinsurance and runoff operations and
the 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, are non-GAAP measures. Where non-GAAP measures are
provided, descriptions are clearly provided in the commentary as to the nature of the adjustments
made.

(3)

The combined ratio – which may be calculated differently by different companies and is calculated by
the company as 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, but is regarded as a non-GAAP measure.

(4) Other non-GAAP measures included in the Capital Resources and Management section of this
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition include: net debt divided by total
equity and non-controlling interests, net debt divided by net total capital and total debt divided by
total capital. The company also calculates an interest coverage ratio as a measure of its ability to service
its debt.

(5) References in this MD&A to Fairfax’s insurance and reinsurance operations do not include Fairfax’s

runoff operations.

Sources of Revenue

Revenues reflected in the consolidated financial statements for the most recent three years are shown in the table that
follows (Other revenue comprised, in 2009 and 2008, animal nutrition revenue earned by Ridley Inc. (“Ridley”) and,
in 2007, claims fees earned by Cunningham Lindsey Group Inc. (“Cunningham Lindsey”)).

Net premiums earned

Insurance

– Canada (Northbridge)
– U.S. (Crum & Forster)
– Asia (Fairfax Asia)

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

– Other

Runoff

Interest and dividends
Net gains on investments
Other revenue

2009

2008

2007

969.2
781.3
116.0
1,927.4
628.1
–

4,422.0
712.7
944.5
556.4

1,076.1
1,005.0
84.6
2,076.4
269.6
17.4

4,529.1
626.4
2,570.7
99.4

1,017.1
1,187.4
68.7
2,120.5
258.4
(3.3)

4,648.8
761.0
1,665.9
434.5

6,635.6

7,825.6

7,510.2

Revenue in 2009 decreased to $6,635.6 from $7,825.6 in 2008, principally as a result of decreased net gains on
investments and a 2.4% decline in net premiums earned, partially offset by the inclusion of Polish Re and the entire
year’s revenues of Advent, the increase in Other revenue relating to Ridley and a 13.8% increase in interest and
dividends. The decline in net premiums earned in 2009 reflected declines at Northbridge ($106.9, or 9.9%), Crum &

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Forster ($223.7, or 22.3%) and OdysseyRe ($149.0, or 7.2%), partially offset by increases at Fairfax Asia ($31.4, or
37.1%) and as a result of the inclusion of Polish Re ($83.3) and the entire year’s premiums of Advent ($289.6,
including $91.3 related to reinsurance-to-close premiums). Interest and dividend income increased in 2009 relative
to 2008 (by $86.3, or 13.8%), primarily reflecting the impact of higher yielding municipal and other tax exempt debt
securities and corporate bonds purchased in the fourth quarter of 2008 and in 2009 with the proceeds of sale of lower
yielding government debt securities, as well as the inclusion of the interest and dividend income of Polish Re. Interest
income on a tax-equivalent basis increased significantly in 2009 compared to 2008 (tax advantaged bond holdings of
$4,550.2 as at December 31, 2009 compared to $4,104.6 as at December 31, 2008). Other revenue in 2009 and 2008
comprised the revenue resulting from the consolidation of Ridley, whereas Other revenue in 2007 comprised revenue
of Cunningham Lindsey. Decreased net gains on investments reflected increased net gains related to bonds and
decreased other than temporary impairments, offset by decreased net gains related to equity and equity index total
return swaps and credit default swaps.

Consolidated gross premiums written in 2009 rose 0.6% relative to the prior year, primarily due to the inclusion of
Advent ($386.1, including $110.0 of reinsurance-to-close premiums in the first quarter) and Polish Re ($88.4). Overall
declines in net written and net earned premiums in 2009 reflected the impact of economic and competitive
conditions, including the foreign currency translation effects of U.S. dollar appreciation year-over-year relative to
other currencies (average rates of exchange), and were partially offset by the inclusion of the net written and net
earned premiums of Polish Re and of Advent for the entire year. Net premiums written by Northbridge measured in
U.S. dollars decreased by 15.5% (9.6% measured in Canadian dollar terms) as a result of the impact of economic
conditions on Northbridge’s insured customers, Northbridge’s disciplined response to the soft underwriting market
conditions and increased competition for new and renewal business. The impact of the weak U.S. economy and
Crum & Forster’s continuing disciplined response to the challenging market conditions, including increasing
competition for new and renewal business and declining pricing, contributed to year-over-year declines in net
premiums written in most lines of business (standard commercial property, general liability and commercial
automobile lines, in particular), partially offset by growth in accident and health and certain specialty lines, resulting
in overall decreases in net premiums written of 18.4% in 2009. OdysseyRe continued to experience broad compet-
itive pressures during 2009 in the global reinsurance and insurance markets in which its divisions compete. Net
premiums written declined 6.7% to $1,893.8 in 2009, with decreases in the London Market (17.0%), EuroAsia (6.4%),
U.S. Insurance (4.9%) and the Americas divisions (3.9%). Net premiums written expressed in U.S. dollars for the
EuroAsia and London Market divisions were reduced by the year-over-year strengthening of the U.S. dollar (average
rates of exchange).

Revenue in 2008 increased to $7,825.6 from $7,510.2 in 2007, principally as a result of increased net gains on
investments, partially offset by decreases in other revenue, interest and dividends and net premiums earned. The
decline in insurance and reinsurance premiums earned reflected the impact of reduced underwriting activity in
increasingly competitive markets and the effect of the appreciation of the U.S. dollar on the translation of net
premiums earned by the non-U.S. operations of the company, partially offset by a year-over-year increase in net
premiums earned as a result of the consolidation of Advent. Increased net gains on investments included increased
net gains related to equity and equity index total return swaps and credit default swaps, partially offset by increased
other than temporary impairments recorded principally on equity securities. Decreased interest and dividends
primarily reflected lower interest income resulting from the year-over-year decline in short term interest rates. Other
revenue in 2008 comprised the revenue resulting from the consolidation of Ridley, whereas other revenue in 2007
comprised revenue of Cunningham Lindsey. Following the sale at the end of 2007 of a majority of the company’s
interest in the operating companies of Cunningham Lindsey, and its resulting deconsolidation at the 2007 year-end,
2008 revenue did not include any revenue from those operating companies.

The decline in net premiums written in 2008 reflected the company’s disciplined response to increasingly com-
petitive conditions and pricing trends in insurance and reinsurance markets where the company’s insurance and
reinsurance companies compete. Net premiums written by Northbridge measured in U.S. dollars increased 10.3%
(8.4% measured in local currency) in 2008 compared to 2007, principally as a result of changes to the 2008
reinsurance program that resulted in increased premium retention and reduced cessions to reinsurers by the
Northbridge operating companies, partially offset by the impact of the year-over-year appreciation of the U.S. dollar
relative to the Canadian dollar. Net premiums written by Crum & Forster in 2008 declined 20.2% in total, with
declines across all major lines of business with the exception of accident and health, reflecting Crum & Forster’s
disciplined response to deteriorating market conditions in the U.S. commercial lines business. Net premiums written

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by OdysseyRe in 2008 declined 2.8%, with declines in the Americas, EuroAsia and U.S. Insurance divisions partially
offset by an increase in the London Market division. Appreciation of the U.S. dollar during 2008 relative to other
currencies also contributed to the decline in OdysseyRe’s net premiums written compared to 2007. Reflecting the
above mentioned factors, net premiums written by the company’s insurance and reinsurance operations in 2008
declined 4.2% to $4,321.1 from $4,508.8 in 2007.

As presented in note 20 to the consolidated financial statements, on a geographic basis, United States, Canadian and
International operations accounted for 49.2%, 25.5% and 25.3% respectively of net premiums earned in 2009
compared with 51.1%, 27.1% and 21.8% respectively in 2008 and 53.8%, 26.3% and 19.9% respectively in 2007.

Net premiums earned in 2009 compared with 2008 increased in International (13.4%) and declined in the United
States (6.1%) and Canada (8.0% – measured in U.S. dollars). International net premiums earned in 2009 increased by
$132.2, reflecting increases in Reinsurance – Other primarily as a result of the inclusion of the net earned premiums
of Polish Re and Advent for the entire year, partially offset by decreases at OdysseyRe ($86.7, representing decreases in
the London Market and EuroAsia divisions). Net premiums earned in the U.S. in 2009 primarily included a $223.7
decrease at Crum & Forster, partially offset by a $153.5 increase in Reinsurance – Other as a result of the inclusion of
the net earned premiums of Advent for the entire year. The decline in Canadian net premiums earned from $1,227.0
in 2008 to $1,128.4 in 2009 was primarily attributable to the impact of economic conditions on Northbridge’s
insured customers, Northbridge’s disciplined response to the soft underwriting market and increased competition for
new and renewal business, and the weaker average Canadian dollar exchange rate relative to the U.S. dollar compared
to 2008.

Net premiums earned in 2008 compared with 2007 declined in the United States (7.4%), increased in International
(6.5%) and were relatively unchanged (increased 0.5%) in Canada, measured in U.S. dollars. Net premiums earned in
Canada in 2008 primarily reflected a $50.0 increase at Northbridge, almost completely offset by a $42.5 decline in net
premiums earned primarily by Group Re as a result of reduced cessions by Northbridge to Group Re in 2008 resulting
from changes to Northbridge’s reinsurance programme. Net premiums earned in the U.S. in 2008 primarily included
a $182.4 decrease at Crum & Forster and a $73.8 decrease at OdysseyRe’s Americas and U.S. Insurance divisions,
partially offset by increases at Runoff and Northbridge and as a result of the consolidation of Advent. International
net premiums earned in 2008 principally reflected increases at OdysseyRe ($31.2, representing an increase in the
London Market division, partially offset by a decrease in the EuroAsia division), Fairfax Asia ($15.9) and Reinsur-
ance – Other ($14.8, principally related to the consolidation of Advent).

Other revenue in 2009 of $556.4 reflected the inclusion of the revenue of Ridley for the entire year compared to $99.4
in 2008, representing the revenue of Ridley since its consolidation in November 2008. Other revenue in 2007 of
$434.5 comprised the fees earned by the company’s claims adjusting, appraisal and loss management services
business (Cunningham Lindsey).

Net Earnings

The company’s sources of net earnings and combined ratios by business segment were as set out in the table that
follows for the most recent three years. The 2009 results include the results of operations of Advent, Ridley and Polish
Re and reflect the company’s 100% interest in Northbridge. In September 2008 the company commenced consol-
idation of Advent following an increase in the company’s investment in Advent, and in November 2008 the company
commenced consolidation of Ridley following the acquisition of a 67.9% interest in Ridley. On January 7, 2009, the
company commenced consolidation of Polish Re following the acquisition of a 100% interest in Polish Re. The results
for Polish Re are included in the Reinsurance – Other business segment. In February 2009 the company completed
the acquisition of the 36.4% of the outstanding common shares of Northbridge not already owned by Fairfax. During
the fourth quarter of 2009 the company completed the acquisition of the outstanding common shares of OdysseyRe
and Advent not already owned by Fairfax. The foregoing transactions are described in further detail in note 18 to the
consolidated financial statements. On January 1, 2008, nSpire Re’s Group Re business was reclassified from the
Reinsurance – Other business segment to the Runoff business segment.

The following table presents the combined ratios and underwriting and operating results for each of the company’s
insurance and reinsurance operations and, as applicable, for its runoff operations, as well as the earnings contri-
butions from Ridley in 2009 and 2008 and, up to December 31, 2007, from its claims adjusting, appraisal and loss
management services business (Cunningham Lindsey). In that table, interest and dividends and net gains on

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investments on the consolidated statements of earnings are broken out so that those items are shown separately as
they relate to the insurance and reinsurance operating results, and are included in Runoff and Corporate overhead
and other as they relate to these segments.

Combined ratios
Insurance

– Canada (Northbridge)
– U.S. (Crum & Forster)
– Asia (Fairfax Asia)

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

– Other

Consolidated

Sources of net earnings
Underwriting
Insurance

– Canada (Northbridge)
– U.S. (Crum & Forster)
– Asia (Fairfax Asia)

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

– Other

Underwriting income (loss)
Interest and dividends – insurance and reinsurance

Operating income
Net gains on investments – insurance and reinsurance
Runoff
Other(3)
Interest expense
Corporate overhead and other

Pre-tax income
Income taxes
Non-controlling interests

Net earnings

2009

2008
(1)(2)

2007

105.9% 103.5%
104.1% 117.6%
91.8%
82.6%
96.7% 101.3%
98.1% 116.6%

96.5%
93.5%
70.4%
95.5%
95.8%

99.8% 106.2%

94.9%

(57.1)
(32.0)
20.2
64.3
11.9

7.3
557.0

564.3
668.0
31.2
12.4
(166.3)
96.0

1,205.6
(214.9)
(133.9)

(37.9)
(177.2)
6.9
(27.7)
(45.0)

(280.9)
476.1

195.2
1,381.8
392.6
1.4
(158.6)
631.9

2,444.3
(755.6)
(214.9)

36.0
77.0
20.3
94.7
10.9

238.9
604.4

843.3
1,025.5
187.6
25.4
(209.5)
288.1

2,160.4
(711.1)
(353.5)

856.8

1,473.8

1,095.8

(1) Excluding the impact in 2008 of Crum & Forster’s lawsuit settlement in the first quarter and Crum & Forster’s reinsurance
commutation loss in the second quarter, the combined ratios in 2008 were 106.7% and 103.8% for Crum & Forster and
Fairfax consolidated respectively.

(2) Prior to giving effect to the above-mentioned items affecting Crum & Forster and catastrophe losses related to Hurricanes Ike

and Gustav, the Fairfax consolidated combined ratio in 2008 was 96.5%.

(3) Other comprises the pre-tax income before interest and other of the Ridley animal nutrition business for the years ended
December 31, 2009 and 2008 and the Cunningham Lindsey claims adjusting business for the year ended December 31, 2007.

In 2009, the company’s insurance and reinsurance operations generated an underwriting profit of $7.3 and a
combined ratio of 99.8% compared to an underwriting loss of $280.9 and a combined ratio of 106.2% in 2008.
Underwriting results in 2009 included the benefit of 0.6 of a combined ratio point ($26.3) of net favourable
development of prior years’ reserves principally at Crum & Forster, Northbridge, OdysseyRe and Fairfax Asia, partially
offset by net adverse development at Group Re and Advent. Underwriting results in 2008 included the impact of a
reinsurance commutation in the second quarter by Crum & Forster ($84.2 pre-tax, representing 1.9 combined ratio
points of adverse prior years’ reserve development) and the settlement of an asbestos-related lawsuit in the first
quarter by Crum & Forster ($25.5 pre-tax, representing 0.6 of a combined ratio point of adverse prior years’ reserve
development). Underwriting results in 2008 included the benefit of 0.3 of a combined ratio point ($14.2) of net
favourable development of prior years’ reserve development, comprised of the 2.4 combined ratio points of adverse
reserve development resulting from the Crum & Forster reinsurance commutation and lawsuit settlement, offset by

103

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

2.7 combined ratio points of otherwise net favourable reserve development primarily at Crum & Forster, Northbridge
and OdysseyRe. Catastrophe losses, principally related to storm activity in Europe and severe weather in the U.S.,
contributed 3.8 combined ratio points ($165.6) to underwriting results in 2009, compared to the impact of 10.3
combined ratio points ($462.0) in 2008, primarily related to U.S. hurricanes, southern China snowstorms, European
windstorms, Australian floods and the China earthquake.

In 2009, net earnings were $856.8 ($43.99 per share, $43.75 per diluted share) compared to $1,473.8 ($80.38 per
share, $79.53 per diluted share) in 2008. Net earnings in 2009 reflected improved underwriting profit as a result of
reduced catastrophe losses in 2009 (after the significant U.S. hurricane losses in 2008), increased interest and
dividend income and net gains on investments of $944.5 (including $937.9 of net gains on bonds, $463.3 of net gains
on common stocks and equity derivatives and $26.6 of net gains on preferred stocks, partially offset by $340.0 of
other than temporary impairments recorded on common stocks and bonds, $147.2 of net losses related to credit
default swaps and other derivatives, and $17.6 of net losses related to foreign currency) compared to net gains on
investments of $2,570.7 in 2008 (including $2,096.8 of net gains on common stocks and equity derivatives, $1,305.7
of net gains related to credit default swaps and other derivatives and $218.9 of net gains on bonds, partially offset by
$1,011.8 of other than temporary impairments recorded on common stocks and bonds and $45.4 of net losses related
to foreign currency).

Operating expenses in 2009, 2008 and 2007 in the consolidated statement of earnings include only the operating
expenses of the company’s insurance, reinsurance and runoff operations and corporate overhead. Operating expenses
in 2009 included the operating expenses of Advent (which was not included in the first eight months of 2008) and
Polish Re (which was not included in 2008). The $25.8 decrease in 2009 operating expenses (after excluding the
operating expenses for the first eight months of 2009 for Advent and for 2009 for Polish Re) related primarily to
reduced corporate overhead expenses at Fairfax (primarily reflecting lower legal expense, partially offset by increased
compensation expense) and decreased operating expenses at Northbridge, Crum & Forster and Runoff, partially offset
by increased privatization-related corporate overhead expenses at OdysseyRe. The $2.0 increase in operating costs in
2008 (after excluding 2008 Advent operating expenses) compared to 2007 primarily reflected increased subsidiary
holding companies corporate overhead costs and increased severance and related costs at Runoff, partially offset by
decreased operating expenses at Northbridge and decreased Fairfax corporate overhead costs.

The company’s insurance and reinsurance operations had an underwriting loss of $280.9 and a combined ratio of
106.2% in 2008, compared to an underwriting profit of $238.9 and a combined ratio of 94.9% in 2007. Underwriting
results in 2008 included the benefit of 0.3 of a combined ratio point ($14.2) of net favourable development of prior
years’ reserve development, comprised of the 2.4 combined ratio points of adverse reserve development resulting
from the Crum & Forster reinsurance commutation and lawsuit settlement, offset by 2.7 combined ratio points of
otherwise net favourable reserve development primarily at Crum & Forster, Northbridge and OdysseyRe. Under-
writing results in 2007 included the benefit of 1.5 combined ratio points ($68.1) of net favourable development of
prior years’ reserves at Crum & Forster, Northbridge, Group Re and Fairfax Asia offset by net unfavourable devel-
opment at OdysseyRe. Catastrophe losses, primarily related to U.S. hurricanes, southern China snowstorms, Euro-
pean windstorms, Australian floods and the China earthquake contributed 10.3 combined ratio points ($462.0) in
2008 compared to the impact of 2.6 combined ratio points ($120.8) principally related to the impact on OdysseyRe of
the European windstorm Kyrill, Cyclone Gonu, Mexico floods, Jakarta floods, the Peru earthquake and U.K. floods
and the effects of storm events on Crum & Forster.

Net earnings in 2008 were $1,473.8 ($80.38 per share, $79.53 per diluted share) compared to $1,095.8 ($61.20 per
share, $58.38 per diluted share) in 2007. Improved net earnings in 2008 primarily reflected a $904.8 increase in net
gains on investments (described below), partially offset by a decline in underwriting results, from a $238.9 profit in
2007 to a $280.9 loss in 2008, and a $134.6 decrease in interest and dividends, principally arising from a year-over-year
decline in short term interest rates. Net gains on investments in 2008 increased to $2,570.7 (including $2,096.8 of net
gains on common stocks and equity derivatives, $1,305.7 of net gains related to credit default swaps and other
derivatives and $218.9 of net gains on bonds, partially offset by $1,011.8 of other than temporary impairments
recorded on common stocks and bonds and $45.4 of net losses related to foreign currency) from $1,665.9 in 2007
(including net gains of $1,141.3 related to credit default swaps, a gain of $220.5 on the disposition of the company’s
investment in Hub International Limited (“Hub”), net gains of $149.5 related to equity and equity index total return
swaps and short positions, net gains on common stocks of $138.8 and net gains of $137.5 related to foreign currency,
partially offset by $109.0 recorded as other than temporary impairments on common stock and bond investments).

104

Net Earnings by Business Segment

The company’s sources of net earnings shown by business segment were as set out in the tables that follow for the
most recent three years. The intercompany adjustment for gross premiums written eliminates premiums on rein-
surance ceded within the group, primarily to OdysseyRe, nSpire Re and Group Re. The intercompany adjustment for
net gains on investments eliminates gains or losses on purchase and sale transactions within the consolidated group.
Also included in corporate and other are net gains (losses) on investments arising on holding company cash, short
term investments and marketable securities.

Year ended December 31, 2009

Crum &

Fairfax

Other

Ongoing

Corporate &

Northbridge

Forster

Asia OdysseyRe

Reinsurance

Operations Runoff Other(1)

Intercompany

Other Consolidated

Gross premiums written

1,250.5

863.8 285.8

2,195.0

688.3

5,283.4

1.1

Net premiums written

928.7

716.4 127.9

1,893.8

619.8

4,286.6

(0.5)

Net premiums earned

969.2

781.3 116.0

1,927.4

628.1

4,422.0

Underwriting profit (loss)
Interest and dividends

Operating income before:
Net gains (losses) on investments
Runoff operating loss
Other(1)
Interest expense
Corporate overhead and other

(57.1)
113.0

55.9
94.4
–
–
–
(19.8)

(32.0)
113.9

81.9
229.1
–
–
(27.8)
(3.3)

20.2
9.0

29.2
17.8
–
–
–
(2.3)

64.3
283.6

347.9
353.6
–
–
(31.0)
(25.8)

11.9
37.5

49.4
(25.8)
–
–
(5.1)
(13.1)

130.5

279.9

44.7

644.7

5.4

1,105.2

31.2

11.4

Pre-tax income (loss)
Income taxes
Non-controlling interests

Net earnings

Year ended December 31, 2008

–

–

–

–
–

–

–
–

7.3
557.0

564.3
–
669.1 129.2
– (98.0)
–
–
–
(63.9)
–
(64.3)

–
–
–
12.4
(1.0)
–

(190.5)

–

–

–
–

–
(1.1)
–
–
–
–

(1.1)

–

–

–

–
–

–
–
–
–
(101.4)
160.3

58.9

5,094.0

4,286.1

4,422.0

7.3
557.0

564.3
797.2
(98.0)
12.4
(166.3)
96.0

1,205.6
(214.9)
(133.9)

856.8

Crum &

Fairfax

Other

Ongoing

Corporate &

Northbridge

Forster

Asia OdysseyRe

Reinsurance

Operations

Runoff Other(1)

Intercompany

Other Consolidated

(190.2)

–

–

–
–

–
(20.8)
–
–
–
–

(20.8)

–

–

–

–
–

–
–
–
–
(93.1)
676.5

583.4

5,061.4

4,332.2

4,529.1

(280.9)
476.1

195.2
1,881.6
(107.2)
1.4
(158.6)
631.9

2,444.3
(755.6)
(214.9)

1,473.8

Gross premiums written

1,452.1 1,019.6 227.0

2,294.5

245.8

5,239.0

Net premiums written

1,099.5

878.2

86.5

2,030.8

226.1

4,321.1

Net premiums earned

1,076.1 1,005.0

84.6

2,076.4

269.6

4,511.7

Underwriting profit (loss)
Interest and dividends

Operating income (loss) before:
Net gains (losses) on investments
Runoff operating loss
Other(1)
Interest expense
Corporate overhead and other

(37.9)
107.9

(177.2)
86.2

70.0
25.7
–
–
–
(14.5)

(91.0)
605.7
–
–
(28.3)
(8.8)

6.9
1.6

8.5
3.0
–
–
–
(5.5)

(27.7)
250.3

222.6
740.1
–
–
(34.2)
(13.9)

(45.0)
30.1

(14.9)
28.1
–
–
(2.6)
(1.9)

12.6

11.1

17.4

–
–

–

–

–

–
–

(280.9)
476.1

195.2
1,402.6

–
499.8
– (107.2)
–
–
–
(65.1)
–
(44.6)

–
–
–
1.4
(0.4)
–

Pre-tax income (loss)
Income taxes
Non-controlling interests

Net earnings

81.2

477.6

6.0

914.6

8.7

1,488.1

392.6

1.0

105

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Year ended December 31, 2007

Crum &

Fairfax

Other

Ongoing

Corporate &

Northbridge

Forster

Asia OdysseyRe

Reinsurance

Operations Runoff Other(1)

Intercompany

Other Consolidated

Gross premiums written

1,531.3 1,245.0 171.2

2,282.7

250.2

5,480.4

8.0

Net premiums written

996.8 1,100.9

70.5

2,089.4

251.2

4,508.8 (10.4)

Net premiums earned

1,017.1 1,187.4

68.7

2,120.5

258.4

4,652.1

(3.3)

Underwriting profit
Interest and dividends

Operating income before:
Net gains (losses) on investments
Runoff operating loss
Other(1)
Interest expense
Corporate overhead and other

36.0
119.2

155.2
230.2
–
–
–
(12.4)

77.0
133.4

210.4
250.3
–
–
(51.0)
(9.6)

20.3
17.4

37.7
–
–
–
–
(3.5)

94.7
309.3

404.0
553.4
–
–
(37.7)
(12.6)

10.9
25.1

36.0
8.9
–
–
–
–

238.9
604.4

–
–

843.3

–
1,042.8 276.8
– (89.2)
–
–
–
(88.7)
–
(38.1)

–

–

–

–
–

–
–
–
25.4
(15.7)
–

Pre-tax income (loss)
Income taxes
Non-controlling interests

Net earnings

373.0

400.1

34.2

907.1

44.9

1,759.3 187.6

9.7

(273.9)

–

–

–
–

–
(17.3)
–
–
–
–

(17.3)

–

–

–

–
–

–
–
–
–
(105.1)
326.2

221.1

5,214.5

4,498.4

4,648.8

238.9
604.4

843.3
1,302.3
(89.2)
25.4
(209.5)
288.1

2,160.4
(711.1)
(353.5)

1,095.8

(1) Other comprises the pre-tax income of the Ridley animal nutrition business for the years ended December 31, 2009 and

2008 and the Cunningham Lindsey claims adjusting business for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Segmented Balance Sheets

The company’s segmented balance sheets as at December 31, 2009 and 2008 present the assets and liabilities of, and
the capital invested by the company in, each of the company’s major segments. The segmented balance sheets have
been prepared on the following basis:

(a)

The balance sheet for each segment is on a legal entity basis for the subsidiaries within the segment (except
for nSpire Re in Runoff, which excludes intercompany balances related to U.S. acquisition financing),
prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP and Fairfax’s accounting policies and basis of accounting.
Accordingly, these segmented balance sheets differ from those published by Crum & Forster and OdysseyRe
primarily due to differences between Canadian and US GAAP and from those published by Advent
primarily due to differences between Canadian GAAP and IFRS as adopted by the European Union. The
segmented balance sheets of Northbridge, OdysseyRe, Advent and Other (Ridley) also include purchase
price adjustments principally related to goodwill and intangible assets which arose on their initial acqui-
sition or on a subsequent step acquisition by the company.

(b)

Investments in Fairfax affiliates, which are carried at cost, are disclosed in the financial information
accompanying the discussion of the company’s business segments. Affiliated insurance and reinsurance
balances, including premiums receivable, reinsurance recoverable, deferred premium acquisition costs,
funds withheld payable to reinsurers, provision for claims and unearned premiums, are not shown
separately but are eliminated in Corporate and Other.

(c) Corporate and Other includes the Fairfax entity and its subsidiary intermediate holding companies as well
as the consolidating and eliminating entries required under Canadian GAAP to prepare consolidated
financial statements. The most significant of those entries are derived from the elimination of intercom-
pany reinsurance (primarily consisting of reinsurance provided by Group Re, reinsurance between
OdysseyRe and the primary insurers, and reinsurance related to pre-acquisition reinsurance arrangements),
which affects recoverable from reinsurers, provision for claims and unearned premiums. The $1,412.4
(2008 – $1,060.6) Corporate and Other long term debt as at December 31, 2009 consisted primarily of
Fairfax debt of $1,236.9 (2008 – $869.6), other long term obligations consisting of TIG trust preferred
securities of $9.1 (2008 – $17.9) and purchase consideration payable of $164.4 (2008 – $169.8) related to
the TRG acquisition (see note 9 to the consolidated financial statements).

106

Segmented Balance Sheet as at December 31, 2009

Insurance

Reinsurance

Crum &

Fairfax

Operating

Corporate

Northbridge

Forster

Asia

OdysseyRe

Other

Companies

Runoff

Other(1)

& Other

Consolidated

Assets

Holding company cash, short term

investments and marketable
securities

27.4

2.5

–

83.0

–

112.9

–

–

1,138.7

1,251.6

Accounts receivable and other

395.4

206.2

54.6

733.9

158.6

1,548.7

228.3

39.2

39.2

1,855.4

Recoverable from reinsurers

1,130.5

927.3 170.3

1,025.0

88.9

3,342.0 1,378.0

Portfolio investments

3,186.6 3,639.1 554.4

8,433.8 1,602.2 17,416.1 2,413.8

(910.9)

3,809.1

247.1

20,078.6

Deferred premium acquisition costs

Future income taxes

Premises and equipment

Goodwill and intangible assets

Due from affiliates

Other assets

Investments in Fairfax affiliates

122.4

18.4

12.1

219.8

78.7

10.9

33.0

45.7

72.8

6.9

20.9

–

13.8

104.5

13.5

126.5

–

7.5

5.5

1.8

–

–

93.4

11.5

152.4

–

33.2

138.5

24.2

29.9

2.0

18.7

9.2

1.2

332.3

214.5

40.0

417.3

89.7

59.1

–

552.7

1.4

–

4.8

69.1

345.1

309.6

–

(654.7)

25.1

54.1

–

(449.5)

39.9

(0.4)

(94.5)

11.4

332.3

318.7

168.6

438.8

–

149.7

–

–

1.6

–

1.0

87.3

21.9

–

Total assets

Liabilities

Subsidiary indebtedness

Accounts payable and accrued

liabilities

Income taxes payable

Short sale and derivative obligations

Due to affiliates

Provision for claims

Unearned premiums

Future income taxes payable

Long term debt

Total liabilities

5,235.2 5,039.7 807.6 10,831.2 2,004.0 23,917.7 4,913.7 205.1

(633.7) 28,402.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

12.1

–

12.1

166.2

147.8 105.1

399.1

25.9

844.1

177.2

45.5

135.4

1,202.2

10.0

11.1

7.5

–

–

–

1.5

–

–

31.5

40.8

13.0

43.8

–

–

0.3

21.2

60.1

40.8

14.8

0.3

7.2

–

368.8

21.3

2,802.2 2,672.4 218.0

5,507.8 1,090.8 12,291.2 3,265.7

713.8

297.8 116.6

691.2

196.2

2,015.6

1.7

–

–

307.5

3.6

–

–

487.0

2.0

94.2

7.3

888.7

–

–

–

0.1

0.3

–

–

–

–

10.4

8.9

(14.8)

(35.2)

70.9

57.2

–

354.9

(809.8) 14,747.1

(95.5)

1,920.1

22.8

(30.1)

–

0.6

1,412.4

2,301.7

3,724.5 3,686.3 475.8

7,214.2 1,430.6 16,531.4 3,471.7

81.4

581.7

20,666.2

Funds withheld payable to reinsurers

30.6

248.2

25.0

Non-controlling interests

–

–

4.0

–

–

4.0

–

–

113.6

117.6

Shareholders’ equity

1,510.7 1,353.4 327.8

3,617.0

573.4

7,382.3 1,442.0 123.7 (1,329.0)

7,619.0

5,235.2 5,039.7 807.6 10,831.2 2,004.0 23,917.7 4,913.7 205.1

(633.7) 28,402.8

Total liabilities and shareholders’

equity

Capital

Debt

Non-controlling interests

Investments in Fairfax affiliates

33.0

104.5

–

–

307.5

–

–

–

–

487.0

69.1

138.5

94.2

–

888.7

69.1

–

–

0.6

1,412.4

2,301.7

44.5

4.0

117.6

69.1

345.1

309.6

–

(654.7)

–

Shareholders’ equity

1,477.7 1,248.9 327.8

3,409.4

504.3

6,968.1 1,132.4

79.2

(560.7)

7,619.0

Total capital

% of total capital

1,510.7 1,660.9 327.8

4,104.0

667.6

8,271.0 1,442.0 124.3

201.0

10,038.3

15.0% 16.5% 3.3%

40.9%

6.7%

82.4% 14.4% 1.2%

2.0% 100.0%

(1) Other comprises the balance sheet of the Ridley animal nutrition business as at December 31, 2009.

107

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Segmented Balance Sheet as at December 31, 2008

Insurance

Reinsurance

Crum &

Fairfax

Operating

Corporate

Northbridge

Forster

Asia

OdysseyRe

Other

Companies

Runoff

Other(1)

& Other

Consolidated

Assets

Holding company cash, short term

investments and marketable securities

–

8.4

–

Accounts receivable and other

Recoverable from reinsurers

373.8

221.8

56.5

1,053.3 1,006.7 156.4

–

701.3

868.0

Portfolio investments

2,748.5 3,741.0 421.1 7,743.8 1,191.3 15,845.7 2,478.1

Deferred premium acquisition costs

113.6

–

8.4

–

–

1,555.8

1,564.2

122.0

1,475.4

142.7

45.2

25.4

1,688.7

93.4

3,177.8 1,927.8

17.7

30.3

0.7

3.9

0.9

2.3

323.1

564.9

29.5

99.0

2.7

38.8

0.1

637.7

2.2

0.1

–

–

6.2

–

4.7

85.6

25.3

–

20.5

60.8

(871.4)

4,234.2

85.0

18,415.0

(1.3)

(507.9)

15.8

(1.2)

(2.7)

5.6

321.9

699.4

133.1

123.2

–

125.7

–

75.9

323.1

274.4

–

(597.5)

52.7

197.8

6.2

22.9

0.7

11.4

94.3

–

–

1.2

5.5

1.1

–

–

139.1

304.4

10.7

48.2

–

20.9

124.7

32.4

10.7

18.5

–

4.2

28.2

–

–

0.1

30.7

Subsidiary indebtedness

–

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

141.7

Future income taxes

Premises and equipment

Goodwill and intangible assets

Due from affiliates

Other assets

Investments in Fairfax affiliates

Total assets

Liabilities

Income taxes payable

Short sale and derivative obligations

Due to affiliates

Funds withheld payable to reinsurers

Provision for claims

Unearned premiums

Future income taxes payable

Long term debt

Total liabilities

4,383.2 5,363.9 641.8 9,961.1 1,538.4 21,888.4 5,483.6 227.8

(294.4) 27,305.4

–

254.8

165.6

–

–

–

89.1

6.0

–

–

–

398.3

238.1

8.6

0.6

–

11.8

–

–

–

–

895.7

409.7

8.6

0.7

231.6

21.6

58.0

28.8

370.7

–

243.3

21.1

59.4

2.5

11.6

5.3

20.7

–

21.1

128.1

244.1

9.2

(6.0)

1,326.5

656.3

29.4

–

(36.3)

355.1

(766.3) 14,728.4

(94.3)

1,890.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,414.2 2,987.7 179.6 5,250.5

856.5 11,688.5 3,806.2

669.8

366.4

92.8

702.0

153.5

1,984.5

0.4

2.8

–

–

305.2

–

–

–

–

2.8

486.5

93.4

885.1

–

–

28.6

(31.4)

–

0.7

1,060.6

1,946.4

3,259.3 4,311.3 389.1 7,142.6 1,144.0 16,246.3 4,090.0 109.8

507.7

20,953.8

Non-controlling interests

–

–

2.7

–

–

2.7

–

–

1,380.1

1,382.8

Shareholders’ equity

1,123.9 1,052.6 250.0 2,818.5

394.4

5,639.4 1,393.6 118.0 (2,182.2)

4,968.8

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

4,383.2 5,363.9 641.8 9,961.1 1,538.4 21,888.4 5,483.6 227.8

(294.4) 27,305.4

Capital

Debt

Non-controlling interests

Investments in Fairfax affiliates

–

305.2

394.1

28.2

–

94.3

–

–

–

486.5

896.8

124.7

93.4

40.2

75.9

885.1

1,331.1

–

–

0.7

1,060.6

1,946.4

49.0

2.7

1,382.8

323.1

274.4

–

(597.5)

–

Shareholders’ equity

701.6

958.3 250.0 1,797.0

278.3

3,985.2 1,119.2

69.0

(204.6)

4,968.8

Total capital

% of total capital

1,123.9 1,357.8 250.0 3,305.0

487.8

6,524.5 1,393.6 118.7

261.2

8,298.0

13.5% 16.4% 3.0% 39.8%

5.9%

78.6% 16.8% 1.4%

3.2% 100.0%

(1) Other comprises the balance sheet of the Ridley animal nutrition business as at December 31, 2008.

Holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities decreased to $1,251.6 at
December 31, 2009 from $1,564.2 at the end of 2008. The balance at December 31, 2008 had increased by $364.0 of
subsidiary dividends received from Crum & Forster in the fourth quarter of 2008, which funds were used to facilitate
the company’s purchase of $374.0 of Northbridge common shares as part of the privatization transaction in the first
quarter of 2009 (as described in note 18).Cash inflows of the holding company in 2009 included the receipt of $983.0
of net proceeds on the issuance of subordinate voting shares in the third quarter, the receipt of $358.6 of net proceeds
on the issuance of unsecured senior notes in the third quarter, the receipt of $225.0 of net proceeds on the issuance of
Series C preferred shares in the fourth quarter, and the receipt of $115.4 in cash dividends from subsidiaries during
the year. Holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities was further increased by $313.3 of
investment income (including net investment gains recorded in net earnings and in other comprehensive income).

108

Cash outflows of the holding company in 2009 included the payment of $1.0 billion in respect of the company’s
privatization of OdysseyRe in the fourth quarter (as described in note 18), the payment of $374.0 (Cdn$458.4) in
respect of the company’s privatization of Northbridge in the first quarter (as described in note 18), the payment of
$143.8 in the fourth quarter to redeem Series A and B preferred shares, the payment of $157.5 in corporate income
taxes during the year, the payment of $151.3 of common and preferred share dividends during the year, the $135.7 of
cash used to repurchase the company’s common shares during the year, the investment of $66.4 to acquire a 15.0%
equity interest in Alltrust Insurance Company of China Ltd. (“Alltrust”) in the third quarter, the $57.0 cash
consideration paid in the first quarter to acquire Polish Re (as described in note 18), the additional investment
of $49.0 in Cunningham Lindsey Group Limited in the first quarter (in conjunction with that company’s acquisition
of the international business of GAB Robins), the investment of $39.9 during the year in the start-up insurance
operations of Fairfax Brasil, the repayment of $12.8 at maturity in the first quarter of the company’s 6.15% secured
loan, and the holding company’s share of $12.3 in the third quarter privatization of Advent (as described in note 18).
Movements in holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities in 2008 included the receipt
of $608.7 in cash dividends from subsidiaries and $652.7 of investment income (including investment gains and
losses recorded in net earnings or in other comprehensive income), partially offset by the repurchase of 1,066,601
subordinate voting shares at a net cost of $282.0, the payment of $99.0 of common and preferred share dividends,
repayment at maturity of the outstanding $62.1 of the company’s 6.875% unsecured senior notes, and the repurchase
of 2,000,000 Series A and B preferred shares at a cost of $48.0 (Cdn$50.0).

Accounts receivable and other increased to $1,855.4 at December 31, 2009 from $1,688.7 at the end of 2008,
with the increase principally reflecting $99.0 receivable by Runoff related to reinsurance commutations completed
during the third and fourth quarters (cash proceeds were subsequently received in January 2010, as described in
note 7).

Reinsurance recoverables declined by $425.1 to $3,809.1 at December 31, 2009 from $4,234.2 at December 31,
2008, with the decrease related primarily to continued progress by the runoff operations (including reductions as a
result of reinsurance commutations, certain of which are described in note 7), claims payments related to 2008
U.S. hurricane and other catastrophe losses, and reduced underwriting activity as a result of the weak economy and
competitive market conditions, partially offset by the foreign currency translation effect of the depreciation at
December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008 of the U.S. dollar relative to most of the major foreign currencies
in which Fairfax’s insurance and reinsurance companies transact their business and to the acquisition of Polish Re.

Future income taxes represent amounts expected to be recovered in future years. The future income taxes asset
decreased by $380.7 to $318.7 during 2009, the decrease being primarily attributable to the decrease in future income
taxes as a result of the appreciation of investments in 2009. Income taxes payable decreased by $585.4 to $70.9 during
2009, principally reflecting income tax payments made in 2009 related to significant realized investment gains and
net earnings in 2008.

At December 31, 2009 the future income taxes asset of $318.7 consisted of $207.8 relating to operating and capital
losses and $292.9 of temporary differences (which primarily represent income and expenses recorded in the
consolidated financial statements but not yet included or deducted for income tax purposes), partially offset by
a valuation allowance of $182.0. The tax-effected operating and capital losses (before valuation allowance) relate to
losses in Canada of $39.2 (primarily the former Cunningham Lindsey companies and the Canadian holding
company), losses in the U.S. of $17.6 (primarily related to Cunningham Lindsey) and losses of $151.0 in Europe.
Management expects that the recorded future income taxes asset will be realized in the normal course of operations.

As at December 31, 2009, management has recorded a valuation allowance against operating and capital losses and
temporary differences of $182.0, of which $29.2 relates to losses in Canada, $132.5 relates to all of the losses carried
forward and temporary differences in Europe, and $20.3 relates to losses in the U.S. The valuation allowance of $29.2
against operating and net capital losses in Canada and $20.3 in the U.S. relate primarily to the former Cunningham
Lindsey companies. There are no valuation allowances related to the Canadian and U.S. insurance and reinsurance
operating companies.

In determining the need for a valuation allowance, management primarily considers current and expected prof-
itability of the companies. Management reviews the recoverability of the future income taxes asset and the valuation
allowance on a quarterly basis. The temporary differences principally relate to insurance-related balances such as
claims, deferred premium acquisition costs and unearned premiums and to investment-related balances such as

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

realized and unrealized gains and losses. Such temporary differences are expected to continue for the foreseeable
future in light of the company’s ongoing operations.

Portfolio investments comprise investments carried at fair value and investments carried at equity-accounted
values (at December 31, 2009, these latter primarily included the company’s investments in ICICI Lombard,
International Coal Group, Cunningham Lindsey Group, Singapore Reinsurance Corporation Limited, The Brick
Group Income Fund, and various investment partnerships and trusts, as described in note 3), the aggregate carrying
value of which was $20,078.6 at December 31, 2009 ($20,030.3 net of subsidiary short sale and derivative obliga-
tions), compared to an aggregate carrying value at December 31, 2008 of $18,415.0 ($18,394.8 net of subsidiary short
sale and derivative obligations). The net $1,635.5 increase in the aggregate carrying value of portfolio investments
(net of subsidiary short sale and derivative obligations) at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008
primarily reflected the increase in net realized and unrealized gains in 2009 (including net investment gains on
subsidiary portfolio investments of $797.2 and the $1,019.8 improvement in the net unrealized gains on subsidiary
available for sale investments), and also reflected subsidiary uses of cash, funded by subsidiary portfolio investments,
that included $665.8 of subsidiary corporate income tax payments (substantially related to significant realized
investment gains and net earnings in 2008), $172.4 paid by Northbridge to complete its privatization, and $72.6 paid
by OdysseyRe to repurchase its common shares. Major changes to portfolio investments in 2009 included a net
increase of $2.64 billion in bonds, a net decrease in cash and short term investments (principally U.S. Treasury
securities) of $2.27 billion and a net increase of $1.04 billion in common stocks. During the third quarter of 2009, as a
result of the rapid increase in the valuation level of equity markets, the company determined to protect a portion
(approximately one-quarter, or $1.5 billion notional amount relative to $6,517.9 of equity and equity-related
holdings) of its equity and equity-related investments against a decline in equity markets by way of short positions
effected through S&P 500 index-referenced total return swap contracts entered into at an average S&P 500 index
value of 1,062.52. At year-end, as a result of decreased equity and equity-related holdings and increased short
positions, the equity hedges had increased to approximately 30%. The unrecorded excess of fair value over the
carrying value of investments carried at equity was $170.8 at December 31, 2009 ($356.0 at December 31, 2008).

Goodwill and intangible assets increased to $438.8 at December 31, 2009 from $123.2 at December 31, 2008.
The $315.6 increase in goodwill and intangible assets in 2009 resulted from the privatizations of OdysseyRe and
Northbridge and the acquisition of Polish Re, and foreign currency translation amounts related to the Northbridge
and Polish Re goodwill and intangible assets. As described in note 5, in 2009 the company recorded $159.0 of
goodwill (OdysseyRe – $64.6, Northbridge – $80.6, Polish Re – $13.8) and $128.7 of intangible assets, principally
related to the value of customer and broker relationships and brand names (OdysseyRe – $37.9, Northbridge – $90.8,
Polish Re – nil). The carrying value of the goodwill and brand name intangible assets will be assessed annually by the
company for impairment commencing in 2010. The customer and broker relationships intangible assets will be
amortized to net earnings over periods ranging from 8 to 20 years.

Provision for claims increased to $14,747.1 at December 31, 2009 from $14,728.4 at December 31, 2008. The net
$18.7 increase related primarily to the foreign currency translation effects of the depreciation since December 31,
2008 of the U.S. dollar relative to most of the major foreign currencies in which the company’s insurance and
reinsurance companies transact their business and to the consolidation of Polish Re, substantially offset by continued
progress by the runoff operations, claims payments related to 2008 hurricanes, and reduced underwriting activity as a
result of the weak economy and competitive market conditions. Additional disclosure on the company’s claims
reserves, on a consolidated basis and by operating segment, is found in the section entitled “Provision for Claims”.

Non-controlling interests declined in 2009 by $1,265.2 to $117.6 from $1,382.8 at December 31, 2008, prin-
cipally as a result of the privatizations of OdysseyRe, Northbridge and Advent. The remaining non-controlling
interests balance primarily relates to OdysseyRe’s preferred stock and Ridley.

Components of Net Earnings

Underwriting and Operating Income

Set out and discussed below are the underwriting and operating results of Fairfax’s insurance and reinsurance
operations on a company-by-company basis for the most recent three years.

110

Canadian Insurance – Northbridge(1)

Underwriting profit (loss)

Combined ratio

Loss & LAE
Commissions
Underwriting expense

Gross premiums written

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned

Underwriting profit (loss)
Interest and dividends

Operating income
Net gains on investments

Pre-tax income before interest and other

Net income after taxes

2009
(57.1)

2008
(37.9)

2007

36.0

75.7%
11.8%
18.4%

75.2%
10.7%
17.6%

68.4%
8.3%
19.8%

105.9%

103.5%

96.5%

1,250.5

1,452.1

1,531.3

928.7

1,099.5

996.8

969.2

1,076.1

1,017.1

(57.1)
113.0

55.9
94.4

150.3

91.8

(37.9)
107.9

70.0
25.7

95.7

45.7

36.0
119.2

155.2
230.2

385.4

273.3

(1) These results differ from the standalone results of Northbridge primarily due to purchase accounting adjustments recorded
by Fairfax related to the privatization of Northbridge. Excluding these purchase price adjustments, Northbridge’s 2009
underwriting loss and combined ratio were $51.7 and 105.3% respectively.

Underwriting results in 2009 deteriorated relative to 2008 results, with an underwriting loss of $57.1 and a combined
ratio of 105.9% compared to an underwriting loss of $37.9 and a combined ratio of 103.5% in 2008. Underwriting
results in 2008 included net losses of $25.2 related to Hurricane Ike. Northbridge’s 2009 underwriting results
generally reflected the continuing weakness in commercial lines pricing and market conditions and the impact of
economic conditions on Northbridge’s insured customers, and specifically included the impact of several large
incurred losses in its small-to-medium account and trucking segments. Northbridge’s 2009 combined ratio was
adversely affected, with a year-over-year increase in its expense ratio to 30.2% in 2009 from 28.3% in 2008, as a result
of a 3.6% decline in net premiums earned and a 2.1% increase in general operating expenses in Canadian dollar
terms. Underwriting results in 2009 included 1.5 combined ratio points ($14.1) of net favourable development of
prior years’ reserves, principally attributable to net favourable development of non-marine energy reserves in its large
account segment, U.S. third party liability reserves in its transportation segment, and across most lines and accident
years in its small-to-medium account segment, partially offset by adverse development of pre-2003 casualty and
commercial auto liability claims and the impact on loss reserves of the imposition of an additional sales tax in certain
Canadian provinces. Underwriting results in 2008 included 5.9 combined ratio points ($63.3) of net favourable
development of prior years’ reserves, principally attributable to better than expected development across most lines
of business for the most recent accident years. Catastrophe losses, primarily related to wind and flood activity, added
1.3 combined ratio points ($13.1) in 2009 compared to 3.4 combined ratio points ($36.2, including $25.2 related to
Hurricane Ike) in 2008.

Northbridge had an underwriting loss of $37.9 and a combined ratio of 103.5% in 2008, compared to an under-
writing profit of $36.0 and a combined ratio of 96.5% in 2007. Underwriting results in 2008 generally reflected the
year-over-year deterioration in commercial lines pricing and market conditions, increased weather-related claims
frequency and loss severity, and expected increased net commission expense resulting from reduced reinsurance
ceding commission income following changes to Northbridge’s 2008 reinsurance programme, partially offset by
lower general operating expenses. Underwriting results in 2008 also included 5.9 combined ratio points ($63.3) of net
favourable development of prior years’ reserves, principally attributable to better than expected development across
most lines of business in the most recent accident years. Underwriting results in 2007 included the benefit of 2.9
combined ratio points ($29.2) of net favourable development of prior years’ reserves, primarily attributable to better

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

than expected claims development on recent accident years and the impact of large losses incurred in 2007 within
the exited portion of Commonwealth’s Energy & International business. In 2008, current period catastrophe losses,
primarily related to Hurricane Ike in the third quarter and the added impact in the year of elevated levels of weather-
related events, added 3.4 combined ratio points ($36.2) to underwriting results (catastrophe losses added 0.7
combined ratio points ($7.0) to 2007 underwriting results). Excluding the impact of Hurricane Ike losses (2.3
combined ratio points, $25.2), Northbridge’s combined ratio was 101.2% in 2008 (96.5% in 2007).

The impact of economic conditions on Northbridge’s insured customers, Northbridge’s disciplined response to the
soft underwriting market conditions and increased competition for new and renewal business contributed to a
decline in gross premiums written during 2009 in Canadian dollar terms of 7.8% compared to 2008. Net premiums
written decreased by 9.6% in 2009 in Canadian dollar terms. Northbridge’s disciplined response to the softening
underwriting cycle and increasing competition for new and renewal business contributed to a 6.8% decline in gross
premiums written in 2008 in Canadian dollar terms compared to 2007. Net premiums written increased by 8.4% in
2008 compared to 2007 in Canadian dollar terms, reflecting changes to Northbridge’s 2008 reinsurance programme
that resulted in increased premium retention through reduced cessions to reinsurers by the Northbridge operating
companies.

Net gains on investments in 2009 of $94.4 (compared to net gains of $25.7 in 2008) included $142.2 of net gains on
bonds, $28.9 of net gains on common stocks and equity derivatives and $8.9 of net gains on preferred stocks, partially
offset by $54.1 of other than temporary impairments recorded principally on common stocks and bonds and $33.1 of
net losses related to foreign currency. Net gains on investments of $25.7 in 2008 included $250.2 of net gains on
common stocks and equity derivatives, $132.7 of net gains related to credit default swaps and $26.8 of net gains
related to foreign currency, partially offset by $279.0 of other than temporary impairments recorded on common
stocks and bonds and $104.9 of net losses on bonds. The impact of increased net gains on investments and interest
and dividends, partially offset by the deterioration in underwriting results, contributed to increased pre-tax income
before interest and other of $150.3 in 2009, compared to pre-tax income before interest and other of $95.7 in 2008.
Net investment gains of $230.2 in 2007 included $129.2 of net gains related to credit default swaps, an $87.7 pre-tax
gain on the sale of the company’s investment in Hub and net gains of $27.8 on common stocks and equity
derivatives, partially offset by other than temporary impairments recorded on common stock and bond investments
of $19.5, net gains related to foreign currency of $3.3 and net losses on bonds of $3.3. The $204.5 decline in net gains
on investments, an $11.3 decrease in interest and dividends and the deterioration in underwriting results contrib-
uted to a $227.6 decrease in net income in 2008 compared to 2007.

Northbridge’s cash resources decreased by $75.6 in 2009, compared to a decline of $230.1 in 2008. Cash used in
operating activities in 2009 was $80.6 compared to cash provided by operating activities of $144.0 in 2008, with the
change primarily due to reduced underwriting cash flows. Cash provided by investing activities was $100.4 in 2009
compared to cash used of $192.0 in 2008, reflecting greater cash used in 2008 to close certain equity index short
positions, as during the second quarter of 2008 the company changed its approach to hedging by substituting equity
index total return swaps for short sales. Increased cash used in financing activities in 2009 of $155.2 compared to
$94.5 used in 2008 primarily reflected the share redemption by Northbridge in 2009 related to the completion of the
going private transaction as described in note 18. Cash provided by operating activities in 2008 was $144.0 compared
to $187.6 in 2007, with the decrease primarily attributable to reduced underwriting cash flows and decreased
investment income. Cash used in investing activities declined to $192.0 in 2008 from $382.7 in 2007, largely as a
result of the greater net purchases of investment securities in 2007 (primarily government bonds). Cash used in
investing activities during 2008 included $253.9 used in the second quarter to close certain equity index short
positions, as the company changed its approach to equity hedging by substituting equity index total return swaps for
short sales. Cash used in financing activities in 2008 increased to $94.5 from $68.5 in 2007, primarily reflecting
greater repurchases by Northbridge of its common shares in 2008.

Northbridge’s average annual return on average equity over the past 24 years since inception in 1985 was 15.7% at
December 31, 2009 (2008 – 16.1%) (expressed in Canadian dollars).

112

Set out below are the balance sheets (in U.S. dollars) for Northbridge as at December 31, 2009 and 2008.

Assets
Holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities
Accounts receivable and other
Recoverable from reinsurers
Portfolio investments
Deferred premium acquisition costs
Future income taxes
Premises and equipment
Goodwill and intangible assets
Due from affiliates
Other assets
Investment in Fairfax affiliates

Total assets

Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Income taxes payable
Due to affiliates
Funds withheld payable to reinsurers
Provision for claims
Unearned premiums
Future income taxes payable

Total liabilities
Shareholders’ equity

2009

2008

27.4
395.4
1,130.5
3,186.6
122.4
18.4
12.1
219.8
78.7
10.9
33.0

–
373.8
1,053.3
2,748.5
113.6
32.4
10.7
18.5
–
4.2
28.2

5,235.2

4,383.2

166.2
10.0
–
30.6
2,802.2
713.8
1.7

3,724.5
1,510.7

141.7
–
0.1
30.7
2,414.2
669.8
2.8

3,259.3
1,123.9

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

5,235.2

4,383.2

(1) This balance sheet differs from the standalone balance sheet of Northbridge primarily due to purchase accounting
adjustments (principally goodwill and intangible assets) which arose on the privatization of Northbridge. Excluding these
purchase accounting adjustments, Northbridge’s shareholders’ equity was $1,345.8 at December 31, 2009.

The Fairfax privatization of Northbridge, the appreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, and
appreciation of Northbridge’s portfolio investments produced the largest balance sheet changes in 2009. Northbridge’s
balance sheet in U.S. dollars (including Fairfax-level purchase price adjustments) as at December 31, 2009 compared to
December 31, 2008 reflected the currency translation effect of the significant depreciation of the U.S. dollar relative to
the Canadian dollar in 2009 (2009 year-end exchange rate of 0.9539 compared to 0.8100 at the end of 2008). Notable
increases in year-end 2009 balances compared to 2008 year-end for reinsurance recoverable, portfolio investments,
provision for claims and shareholders’ equity were primarily attributable to this currency translation effect. Rein-
surance recoverable in Canadian dollars declined in 2009 compared to 2008, primarily reflecting reduced cessions to
reinsurers following a decline in written premiums as a result of Northbridge’s response to challenging industry
conditions and the economy’s impact on Northbridge’s insured customers, partially offset by the currency translation
effect of U.S. dollar depreciation on the U.S. dollar-denominated ceded claims reserves of Commonwealth and Markel.
Portfolio investments in Canadian dollars increased in 2009 compared to 2008, with the increase primarily attrib-
utable to the appreciation of available for sale investments, particularly equity investments. Goodwill and intangible
assets increased to $219.8 in 2009 from $18.5 in 2008 as a result of fair value purchase price adjustments recorded by
Fairfax following the privatization of Northbridge (as described in note 18). Provision for claims decreased in Canadian
dollars at the end of 2009 compared to 2008, primarily reflecting the decline in incurred losses following a decline in
written and earned premiums as a result of challenging industry conditions and the impact of the weak economy,
partially offset by the currency translation effect of U.S. dollar appreciation on the U.S. dollar-denominated claims
reserves of Commonwealth and Markel. Shareholders’ equity increased by $386.8, reflecting the effects of the growth
in accumulated other comprehensive income primarily as a result of unrealized foreign currency translation gains due
to the depreciation of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar, the impact of purchase price adjustments

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

recorded by Fairfax on the privatization of Northbridge and recognized in the Northbridge reporting segment and
appreciation of available for sale securities and 2009 net earnings, partially offset by the reductions of capital related to
the privatization.

Northbridge’s investment in Fairfax affiliates as at December 31, 2009 consisted of:

Affiliate

Ridley

U.S. Insurance – Crum & Forster(1)

Underwriting profit (loss)

Combined ratio

Loss & LAE
Commissions
Underwriting expense

Gross premiums written

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned

Underwriting profit (loss)
Interest and dividends

Operating income (loss)
Net gains on investments

Pre-tax income before interest and other

Net income after taxes

% interest

30.7

2009
(32.0)

2008
(177.2)

2007
77.0

69.2%
11.8%
23.1%

85.8%
12.0%
19.8%

64.9%
12.0%
16.6%

104.1% 117.6% 93.5%

863.8

1,019.6

1,245.0

716.4

878.2

1,100.9

781.3

1,005.0

1,187.4

(32.0)
113.9

81.9
229.1

(177.2)
86.2

(91.0)
605.7

77.0
133.4

210.4
250.3

311.0

514.7

460.7

212.7

315.1

267.3

(1) These results differ from those published by Crum & Forster Holdings Corp., primarily due to differences between Canadian

and US GAAP.

Crum & Forster reported an underwriting loss of $32.0 and a combined ratio of 104.1% in 2009 compared to an
underwriting loss of $177.2 and a combined ratio of 117.6% in 2008 (including the impact of $74.3 of catastrophe
losses attributable to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, an $84.2 charge related to a second quarter reinsurance commu-
tation and the $25.5 impact of a settlement of an asbestos-related lawsuit in the first quarter of 2008). The results in
2009 generally reflected the impact of the weak U.S. economy, the continuing challenging conditions in commercial
lines markets, and underwriting actions taken by the company. Crum & Forster’s 2009 combined ratio was adversely
affected by a year-over-year deterioration in its expense ratio (34.9% in 2009, compared to 31.8% in 2008) as a result
of the 22.3% decline in net premiums earned relative to a 5.8% decline in underwriting operating expenses ($158.4 in
2009, compared to $168.1 in 2008). The underwriting results in 2009 included the benefit of 3.2 combined ratio
points ($25.0) of net favourable development of prior years’ reserves, principally related to favourable emergence in
specialty lines and workers’ compensation, partially offset by adverse emergence in commercial auto and latent
claims. Included in the $59.0 of net adverse prior years’ reserve development in underwriting results in 2008 were the
unfavourable impacts of the reinsurance commutation ($84.2 or 8.4 combined ratio points) and the lawsuit
settlement ($25.5 or 2.5 combined ratio points), partially offset by otherwise net favourable prior years’ reserve
development of 5.0 combined ratio points ($50.7), related primarily to workers’ compensation, umbrella and
specialty lines. Reduced catastrophe losses of $11.6 added 1.5 combined ratio points to the 2009 underwriting
results compared to $93.7 and 9.3 combined ratio points in 2008 (primarily related to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav).

The effects of unfavourable pricing trends and market conditions in 2008, the impact of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav
($74.3, 7.4 combined ratio points) in the third quarter, the second quarter reinsurance commutation ($84.2, 8.4
combined ratio points) and the settlement of an asbestos-related lawsuit in the first quarter ($25.5, 2.5 combined ratio

114

points) contributed to an unfavourable underwriting result for Crum & Forster in 2008, with an underwriting loss of
$177.2 and a combined ratio of 117.6%, compared to underwriting profit of $77.0 and a combined ratio of 93.5% in
2007. Prior to giving effect to the impact of the Hurricanes Ike and Gustav losses, the reinsurance commutation and the
lawsuit settlement, Crum & Forster’s combined ratio in 2008 was 99.3%. In addition to the adverse impact on prior
years’ reserves of the reinsurance commutation and the lawsuit settlement, underwriting results in 2008 included
otherwise net favourable prior years’ reserve development of 5.0 combined ratio points ($50.7), related primarily to
workers’ compensation, umbrella and Seneca business. Catastrophe losses, primarily related to Hurricanes Ike and
Gustav and storm events in the U.S. Southeast and Midwest regions, accounted for 9.3 combined ratio points ($93.7) of
the combined ratio in 2008. Included in the results for 2007 was the benefit of 3.9 combined ratio points ($46.6) of net
favourable development of prior years’ reserves, after the effects of aggregate stop loss reinsurance treaties. Prior to the
effect of aggregate stop loss reinsurance, Crum & Forster experienced net favourable development of $50.2, principally
attributable to $65.4 of favourable emergence in workers’ compensation lines and $39.3 of net favourable development
related to general liability and commercial multi-peril liabilities, partially offset by $54.5 of adverse development in
latent liability reserves. Catastrophe losses added 1.3 combined ratio points ($15.0) to the combined ratio in 2007.

The impact of the weak U.S. economy and Crum & Forster’s continuing disciplined response to the challenging
market conditions, including increasing competition for new and renewal business and declining pricing, contrib-
uted to year-over-year declines in gross premiums written and net premiums written in most lines of business
(standard commercial property, general liability and commercial automobile lines, in particular), partially offset by
growth in accident and health and certain specialty lines, resulting in overall decreases in gross premiums written
and net premiums written of 15.3% and 18.4% respectively for 2009 compared to 2008. Net premiums earned
decreased by 22.3% in 2009 compared to 2008. Crum & Forster’s disciplined response to the softening underwriting
cycle, increasing competition for new and renewal business and declining pricing in 2008 contributed to
year-over-year declines in gross premiums written and net premiums written in most lines of business, including
primary casualty and property, partially offset by growth in accident and health business written by the Fairmont
Specialty division, resulting in overall decreases in gross premiums written and net premiums written of 18.1% and
20.2% respectively in 2008 compared to 2007. Net premiums earned decreased by 15.4% in 2008 compared to 2007.

Crum & Forster recorded significantly lower net gains on investments of $229.1 in 2009 (compared to net gains of
$605.7 in 2008) which included $240.6 of net gains on bonds and $106.2 of net gains on common stocks and equity
derivatives, partially offset by $106.1 of other than temporary impairments recorded on common stocks and bonds,
$9.8 of net losses related to credit default swaps and other derivatives, and $4.3 of net losses related to foreign
currency. Net gains on investments of $605.7 in 2008 included $418.0 of net gains on common stocks and equity
derivatives, $289.1 of net gains related to credit default swaps and other derivatives and $95.6 of net gains on bonds,
partially offset by $198.0 of other than temporary impairments recorded on common stocks and bonds. The
significant year-over-year decline in net investment gains was partially offset by improved underwriting results
and higher interest and dividends, and contributed to decreased pre-tax income before interest and other of $311.0 in
2009 compared to $514.7 in 2008. A decline in interest and dividend income in 2008, primarily attributable to
reduced equity in earnings of investees and a year-over-year decline in short term interest rates, and the year-over-year
deterioration in underwriting results were more than offset by increased net gains on investments to $605.7 from
$250.3 in 2007 (including $226.8 of net gains related to credit default swaps and $73.8 of net gains on common stocks
and equity derivatives, partially offset by $30.3 of net losses on bonds and $26.5 of other than temporary impairments
recorded on common stocks and bonds), resulting in a $47.8 increase in net income in 2008 compared to 2007.

Crum & Forster’s principal operating subsidiaries (United States Fire Insurance and North River Insurance) paid
combined dividends in 2009 to their parent holding company of $138.4 (2008 – $511.3; 2007 – $138.2). The Crum &
Forster holding company paid dividends to Fairfax in 2009 of $115.0 (2008 – $494.0; 2007 – $183.7). The dividend of
$494.0 paid in 2008 included a $350.0 extraordinary dividend consisting of $191.2 of cash and $158.8 of securities, paid
out of excess capital, which was approved by the relevant insurance regulator. The effects of net earnings and increased
unrealized gains on available for sale investments, partially offset by dividends paid to Fairfax, increased Crum &
Forster’s US GAAP basis shareholders’ equity to $1.52 billion at December 31, 2009 from $1.17 billion at December 31,
2008. Crum & Forster’s operating subsidiaries’ combined 2010 maximum dividend capacity is $163.8, which is not
subject to prior regulatory approval for payment.

Crum & Forster’s cash resources increased by $79.3 in 2009, compared to a $718.2 decline in 2008. Cash used in
operating activities in 2009 was $402.4 compared to cash provided by operations of $100.9 in 2008, with the

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year-over-year change primarily attributable to lower premium collections related to the decline in premiums
written, higher income tax payments and steady or only modestly declining outlays for paid losses, ceded reinsur-
ance costs and fixed operating expenses in 2009 and the impact of the $302.5 cash proceeds of the reinsurance
commutation received in 2008. Cash provided by investing activities during 2009 was $596.7 compared to $479.6 of
cash used in 2008 (which included $642.1 used to close certain equity index short positions, as during the second
quarter of 2008 the company changed its approach to equity hedging by substituting equity total return swaps for
short sales). Cash used in financing activities of $115.0 in 2009 and $339.5 in 2008 primarily related to dividends paid
to Fairfax. Cash provided by operating activities in 2008 was $100.9 compared to cash used in operating activities of
$5.9 in 2007, with the increase primarily attributable to the $302.5 cash proceeds of the second quarter reinsurance
commutation, partially offset by lower premium collections. Cash used in investing activities of $479.6 during 2008
(2007 – cash provided by investing activities of $220.5) reflected greater net purchases of investment securities
(including the purchase of U.S. state, municipal and other tax-exempt bonds, partially offset by the sale of the
majority of the company’s U.S. Treasury bonds), and in addition reflected $642.1 used to close certain equity index
short positions in the second quarter, as the company changed its approach to equity hedging by substituting equity
index total return swaps for short sales. Increased cash used in financing activities of $339.5 (2007 – $118.5) primarily
reflected increased dividends paid by Crum & Forster to Fairfax in 2008 compared to 2007.

Crum & Forster’s net income for the year ended December 31, 2009 produced a return on average equity of 17.7%
(2008 – 26.7%; 2007 – 21.2%). Crum & Forster’s cumulative earnings since acquisition on August 13, 1998 have been
$1,590.6, from which it has paid cumulative dividends to Fairfax of $1,235.6, and its annual return on average equity
since acquisition has been 13.4% (2008 – 13.0%).

Set out below are the balance sheets for Crum & Forster as at December 31, 2009 and 2008.

Assets
Holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities
Accounts receivable and other
Recoverable from reinsurers
Portfolio investments
Deferred premium acquisition costs
Future income taxes
Premises and equipment
Goodwill and intangible assets
Due from affiliates
Other assets
Investments in Fairfax affiliates

Total assets

Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Income taxes payable
Due to affiliates
Funds withheld payable to reinsurers
Provision for claims
Unearned premiums
Long term debt

Total liabilities
Shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

2009

2008

2.5
206.2
927.3
3,639.1
45.7
72.8
6.9
20.9
–
13.8
104.5

8.4
221.8
1,006.7
3,741.0
52.7
197.8
6.2
22.9
0.7
11.4
94.3

5,039.7

5,363.9

147.8
11.1
1.5
248.2
2,672.4
297.8
307.5

3,686.3
1,353.4

254.8
165.6
–
231.6
2,987.7
366.4
305.2

4,311.3
1,052.6

5,039.7

5,363.9

(1) These balance sheets differ from those published by Crum & Forster Holdings Corp., primarily due to differences between

Canadian and US GAAP.

116

Significant changes to Crum & Forster’s balance sheet as at December 31, 2009 as compared to 2008 primarily
reflected the company’s reduced level of underwriting activity in 2009 in response to challenging industry conditions
in the U.S. commercial lines market. Reduced levels of underwriting activity contributed to a $79.4 decline in
reinsurance recoverable, a $315.3 decline in provision for claims and a $68.6 decline in unearned premiums.
Portfolio investments decreased by $101.9, reflecting increased cash used in operating activities ($402.4) and
dividends to Fairfax of $115.0, principally funded by net sales of portfolio investments, partially offset by the
effects of significant net investment gains ($229.1) and increased unrealized gains on available for sale investments
($202.4, net of tax). Decreased future income taxes primarily reflected decreased future income taxes assets related to
a reversal in 2009 of unrealized losses on investments at the end of 2008, while the decrease in income taxes payable
was primarily attributable to greater tax payments as a result of significant realized investment gains and net earnings
in 2008. Shareholders’ equity increased by $300.8 primarily as a result of earnings of $212.7 and increased unrealized
gains on available for sale investments ($202.4, net of tax), partially offset by dividends paid to Fairfax of $115.0.

Crum & Forster’s investments in Fairfax affiliates as at December 31, 2009 consisted of:

Affiliate

TRG Holdings

Advent

OdysseyRe

% interest

1.4

17.5

8.8

For more information on Crum & Forster, please see its 10-K report for 2009 posted on its website www.cfins.com.

Asian Insurance – Fairfax Asia

Underwriting profit

Combined ratio

Loss & LAE
Commissions
Underwriting expense

Gross premiums written

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned

Underwriting profit
Interest and dividends

Operating income
Net gains on investments

Pre-tax income before interest and other

Net income after taxes

2009
20.2

2008
6.9

2007
20.3

73.1%
(1.7)%
11.2%

81.5%
(6.6)%
16.9%

56.3%
(3.2)%
17.3%

82.6% 91.8% 70.4%

285.8

227.0

171.2

127.9

116.0

20.2
9.0

29.2
17.8

47.0

38.3

86.5

84.6

6.9
1.6

8.5
3.0

11.5

0.9

70.5

68.7

20.3
17.4

37.7
–

37.7

28.7

Fairfax Asia comprises the company’s Asian holdings and operations: Singapore-based First Capital Insurance
Limited, Hong Kong-based Falcon Insurance Limited, 40.5%-owned Bangkok-based Falcon Insurance Public Com-
pany Limited and a 26% equity-accounted interest in Mumbai-based ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company
Limited, India’s largest (by market share) private general insurer (the remaining 74% interest is held by ICICI Bank,
India’s second largest commercial bank).

Fairfax Asia reported improved underwriting profit of $20.2 and a combined ratio of 82.6% in 2009 (underwriting
profit of $6.9 and a combined ratio of 91.8% in 2008), reflecting favourable underwriting results at First Capital and
unfavourable results at Falcon. Increased business activity in 2009 at First Capital and Falcon, principally relating to

117

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

increased commercial auto and marine hull business, resulted in a 25.9% increase in gross premiums written and a
47.9% increase in net premiums written. The 2009 results included 7.0 combined ratio points ($8.1) of net favourable
development of prior years’ reserves, primarily related to net favourable emergence at Falcon (compared to 4.0
combined ratio points ($3.4) of net unfavourable development in 2008). Increased interest and dividends in 2009 of
$9.0 (compared to interest and dividends of $1.6 in 2008) primarily related to the effects of reinvestment in higher
yielding fixed income securities. Net gains on investments in 2009 of $17.8 included $9.8 of net gains on bonds and
$10.6 of net gains on common stocks, partially offset by $1.1 of other than temporary impairments on common
stocks and bonds. Significantly increased underwriting profit, increased interest and dividends (due to reinvestment
of the portfolio into higher yielding fixed income securities) and net gains on investments in 2009 compared to 2008
resulted in increased pre-tax income before interest and other of $47.0 compared to $11.5.

Fairfax Asia produced an underwriting profit of $6.9 and a combined ratio of 91.8% in 2008 (compared to an
underwriting profit of $20.3 and a combined ratio of 70.4% in 2007), reflecting favourable underwriting results from
First Capital, partially offset by unfavourable results from Falcon. The 2008 results included the impact of 4.0
combined ratio points ($3.4) of net unfavourable development of prior years’ reserves primarily related to workers’
compensation at Falcon (compared to 6.4 combined ratio points ($4.4) of net favourable development primarily
attributable to First Capital in 2007). In 2008, increased marine, motor, engineering and workers’ compensation
business written by First Capital, a significant portion of which was ceded to third party reinsurers and a minor
increase in premiums written by Falcon resulted in a 32.6% increase in gross premiums written and a 22.7% increase
in net premiums written. Decreased underwriting profit and interest and dividends (due to reduced equity in
earnings of investees, principally ICICI Lombard) were only partially offset by increased net gains on investments in
2008 compared to 2007, resulting in a decrease in net income to $0.9 from $28.7.

During 2009, the company invested $0.6 to acquire additional shares in ICICI Lombard. During 2008, the company
invested $30.3 in ICICI Lombard. As at December 31, 2009, the company had invested a total of $88.1 to acquire and
maintain its 26% interest in ICICI Lombard and carried this investment in note 3 to the consolidated balance sheet at
$75.9 on the equity basis of accounting (fair value of $204.4 as disclosed in note 3 to the consolidated financial
statements). The company’s investment in ICICI Lombard is included in portfolio investments in the Fairfax Asia
balance sheet that follows.

During the nine month period ended December 31, 2009, ICICI Lombard’s gross premiums written decreased in
Indian rupees by 7.4% over the comparable 2008 period, with a combined ratio (trade basis) of 108.8% on an Indian
GAAP basis. The Indian property and casualty insurance industry experienced increasingly competitive market
conditions in 2009, including highly competitive pricing as a result of the phasing out (begun in 2007) of regulatory
price controls, which contributed to a decline in the growth rate of insurance premiums for the industry and for ICICI
Lombard. With a 9.7% market share, 4,707 employees and 360 offices across India, ICICI Lombard is India’s largest
(by market share) private general insurer. Please see its website (www.icicilombard.com) for further details of its
operations.

118

Set out below are the balance sheets for Fairfax Asia as at December 31, 2009 and 2008:

Assets
Accounts receivable and other
Recoverable from reinsurers
Portfolio investments
Deferred premium acquisition costs
Premises and equipment
Goodwill and intangible assets
Due from affiliates

Total assets

Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Income taxes payable
Funds withheld payable to reinsurers
Provision for claims
Unearned premiums
Future income taxes payable

Total liabilities
Non-controlling interests
Shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

2009

2008

54.6
170.3
554.4
13.5
7.5
5.5
1.8

56.5
156.4
421.1
–
1.2
5.5
1.1

807.6

641.8

105.1
7.5
25.0
218.0
116.6
3.6

475.8
4.0
327.8

89.1
6.0
21.6
179.6
92.8
–

389.1
2.7
250.0

807.6

641.8

Significant changes to Fairfax Asia’s balance sheet as at December 31, 2009, reflected increased business activity
during 2009 and included increased portfolio investments, reinsurance recoverable, provision for claims and
unearned premiums. Shareholders’ equity increased primarily as a result of net earnings of $38.3, and increased
accumulated other comprehensive income related to increased unrealized gains on available for sale investments
(principally equities) and unrealized foreign currency translation gains due to U.S. dollar depreciation.

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe(1)

Underwriting profit (loss)

Combined ratio

Loss & LAE
Commissions
Underwriting expense

Gross premiums written

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned

Underwriting profit (loss)
Interest and dividends

Operating income
Net gains on investments

Pre-tax income before interest and other

Net income after taxes

2009

64.3

2008
(27.7)

2007

94.7

67.6%
19.5%
9.6%

72.7%
20.1%
8.5%

66.4%
20.6%
8.5%

96.7% 101.3% 95.5%

2,195.0

2,294.5

2,282.7

1,893.8

2,030.8

2,089.4

1,927.4

2,076.4

2,120.5

64.3
283.6

347.9
353.6

701.5

486.9

(27.7)
250.3

222.6
740.1

962.7

613.9

94.7
309.3

404.0
553.4

957.4

596.0

(1) These results differ from those published by Odyssey Re Holdings Corp. primarily due to differences between Canadian and
US GAAP and due to purchase accounting adjustments recorded by Fairfax related to the privatization of OdysseyRe.

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Improved underwriting performance in 2009 produced underwriting profit of $64.3 and a combined ratio of 96.7%,
compared to an underwriting loss of $27.7 and a combined ratio of 101.3% in 2008. Underwriting results in 2009
included the impact of catastrophe losses of 6.1 combined ratio points ($116.1), principally related to storm activity
and flooding in Europe and Turkey, and 11.8 combined ratio points ($242.2) in 2008 primarily related to Hurricanes
Ike and Gustav in the U.S., the southern China snowstorms, windstorm Emma in central Europe, flood losses in
eastern Australia and the China earthquake. OdysseyRe’s 2009 results were favourably impacted by 0.6 of a combined
ratio point ($11.3) of net favourable reserve development, including net favourable development in the EuroAsia,
London Market and U.S. Insurance divisions, partially offset by a strengthening of asbestos reserves in the Americas
division. Results in 2008 were favourably impacted by 0.5 of a combined ratio point ($10.1) of prior years’ reserve
development (net favourable development in the U.S. Insurance, EuroAsia and London Market divisions, partially
offset by net adverse development in the Americas division).

OdysseyRe had an underwriting loss of $27.7 and a combined ratio of 101.3% in 2008, compared to an underwriting
profit of $94.7 and a combined ratio of 95.5% in 2007. The 2008 combined ratio included 11.8 combined ratio points
($242.2) related to current period catastrophe losses (net of reinstatement premiums), primarily related to Hurricanes
Ike and Gustav (6.6 combined ratio points, $136.9), the southern China snowstorm, windstorm Emma in central
Europe, flood losses in eastern Australia and the China earthquake. Underwriting results in 2008 were favourably
impacted by 0.5 of a combined ratio point ($10.1) of prior period reserve development (net favourable reserve
development in U.S. Insurance, EuroAsia and London Market divisions partially offset by net adverse development in
the Americas division). The 2007 combined ratio included 1.9 combined ratio points ($40.5) of net adverse reserve
development (a total of $142.9 in the Americas division, including $77.4 for asbestos and environmental reserves
strengthening, a $21.2 charge related to a third quarter litigation settlement, and adverse development of 2001 and
prior years’ casualty losses, partially offset by net favourable emergence in the London Market ($57.0) and U.S. Insur-
ance ($38.7) divisions) and 4.7 combined ratio points ($98.8) for current period catastrophe losses (primarily Storm
Kyrill, Cyclone Gonu, Mexico floods, Jakarta floods, the Peru earthquake and U.K. floods).

OdysseyRe continued to experience broad competitive pressures in 2009 in the global reinsurance and insurance
markets in which its divisions compete. OdysseyRe’s gross premiums written declined 4.3% to $2,195.0 in 2009
compared to 2008. Net premiums written declined 6.7% to $1,893.8 in 2009, and net premiums earned declined 7.2%
to $1,927.4. Gross premiums written in 2009 declined in the London Market (10.2%), EuroAsia (6.3%) and Americas
(3.9%) divisions, and increased in the U.S. Insurance division (1.4%). Premiums written expressed in U.S. dollars for
the EuroAsia and London Market divisions were reduced by the year-over-year appreciation of the average 2009
U.S. dollar exchange rate. OdysseyRe continued to experience broad competitive pressures in 2008 in the global
reinsurance and insurance markets in which its divisions compete. Declines in the Americas division reinsurance
premiums reflected increasing client retentions and softening pricing in reinsurance markets, while insurance
premiums were affected by planned reductions in certain of the U.S. Insurance division’s lines of business (including
non-standard personal auto) and by increased competition in its medical professional liability segment. The EuroAsia
division reported modestly increased written premiums in 2008, primarily as a result of a system change in the
reinsurance premium process (which had no impact on earned premiums). Decreased written premiums in the
Americas and U.S. Insurance divisions were partially offset by the increase in the EuroAsia division and by increases in
premiums written by the London Market division, which experienced growth in its professional liability business.
Gross premiums written during 2008 increased 0.5%, and included increases of 5.5% in EuroAsia, 9.1% in the London
Market division and 1.4% in the U.S. Insurance division, mostly offset by a 7.0% decrease in the Americas division.
Net premiums written during 2008 compared to 2007 declined 2.8% to $2,030.8, primarily reflecting the effect of
increased utilization of reinsurance in the London Market division, and net premiums earned declined 2.1%
to $2,076.4.

Interest and dividend income in 2009 increased 13.3% compared to 2008, primarily reflecting the impact of higher
yielding municipal and other tax exempt debt securities and corporate bonds purchased in the fourth quarter of 2008
and in 2009 with the proceeds of the sale of lower yielding government debt securities. Net gains on investments of
$353.6 in 2009 (compared to net gains of $740.1 in 2008) included $394.6 of net gains on bonds, $99.0 of net gains on
common stocks and equity derivatives and $7.3 of net gains on preferred stocks, partially offset by $119.1 of other than
temporary impairments recorded on common stocks and bonds and $31.4 of net losses related to credit default swaps
and other derivatives. Net gains on investments of $740.1 in 2008 included $554.6 of net gains on common stocks and
equity derivatives, $352.2 of net gains related to credit default swaps, and $233.2 of net gains on bonds, partially offset
by $370.1 of other than temporary impairments recorded on common stocks and bonds and $33.4 of net losses related

120

to foreign currency. This decline in net investment gains, partially offset by increased underwriting profit and interest
and dividend income, produced pre-tax income before interest and other of $701.5 in 2009 compared to $962.7 in
2008. Increased net gains on investments of $740.1 in 2008 compared to net gains on investments of $553.4 in 2007
(including net gains related to credit default swaps of $295.9, a net gain of $130.1 on the sale of the company’s
investment in Hub, net gains on bonds of $16.6, net gains of $79.6 related to common stocks and equity derivatives and
$87.2 of net gains related to foreign currency, partially offset by other than temporary impairments recorded on
common stock and bond positions of $59.7) more than offset the declines in underwriting profit and interest and
dividends, and contributed to an increase in net income to $613.9 in 2008 from $596.0 in 2007.

OdysseyRe’s cash resources increased in 2009 by $185.7 and decreased in 2008 by $142.2. Cash used in operating
activities in 2009 was $1.3 compared to $107.6 of cash provided by operating activities in 2008, with the change
primarily attributable to higher income tax payments (substantially related to significant investment gains realized
in 2008) and decreased underwriting cash flows, including higher paid losses and lower premiums collections. Cash
provided by investing activities of $238.7 in 2009 decreased from $318.6 in 2008. Cash used in financing activities of
$114.3 in 2009 and $389.8 in 2008 related primarily to repurchases by OdysseyRe of its common shares and dividends
paid on its preferred and common shares. Cash provided by operating activities in 2008 was $107.6 compared to
$162.8 in 2007, with the decrease primarily attributable to decreased investment income, higher income tax
payments and decreased underwriting cash flows, including higher paid losses and lower premiums collections.
Net cash provided by investing activities in 2008 of $318.6 reflected greater net sales of investment securities
(primarily U.S. Treasury bonds) compared to net cash used in 2007 of $1,355.6 (primarily purchases of U.S. Treasury
bonds). Increased cash used in financing activities of $389.8 (2007 – $131.5) primarily reflected OdysseyRe’s
increased repurchases of its common shares, resulting in the retirement of 9.5 million common shares during 2008.

Set out below are the balance sheets for OdysseyRe as at December 31, 2009 and 2008:

Assets
Holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities
Accounts receivable and other
Recoverable from reinsurers
Portfolio investments
Deferred premium acquisition costs
Future income taxes
Premises and equipment
Goodwill and intangible assets
Other assets
Investments in Fairfax affiliates

Total assets

Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Income taxes payable
Short sale and derivative obligations
Due to affiliates
Funds withheld payable to reinsurers
Provision for claims
Unearned premiums
Long term debt

Total liabilities
Shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

2009

2008

83.0
733.9
1,025.0
8,433.8
126.5
93.4
11.5
152.4
33.2
138.5

–
701.3
868.0
7,743.8
139.1
304.4
10.7
48.2
20.9
124.7

10,831.2

9,961.1

399.1
31.5
40.8
13.0
43.8
5,507.8
691.2
487.0

7,214.2
3,617.0

398.3
238.1
8.6
0.6
58.0
5,250.5
702.0
486.5

7,142.6
2,818.5

10,831.2

9,961.1

(1) These balance sheets differ from those published by Odyssey Re Holdings Corp. primarily due to differences between
Canadian and US GAAP and purchase accounting adjustments (principally goodwill and intangible assets) which arose on
the privatization of OdysseyRe. Excluding these purchase accounting adjustments, OdysseyRe’s Canadian GAAP share-
holders’ equity was $3,512.6 at December 31, 2009.

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Changes in OdysseyRe’s balance sheet as at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008 reflected the effects
of the depreciation in the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies in which OdysseyRe’s divisions conduct significant
business (including the pound sterling, euro and Canadian dollar). OdysseyRe’s written and earned premiums
declined in 2009 compared to 2008, but foreign currency translation had the effect of increasing provision for claims,
recoverable from reinsurers (which also increased as a result of the increased utilization of reinsurance by OdysseyRe’s
insurance operations in the U.S. Insurance and London Market divisions) and portfolio investments. Portfolio
investments increased by $690.0 to $8,433.8, reflecting significant net investment gains and increased unrealized
gains on available for sale investments (principally common stocks and bonds). Increased goodwill and intangible
assets represent purchase price adjustments recorded by Fairfax on the privatization of OdysseyRe and recognized in
the OdysseyRe reporting segment. Decreased future income taxes primarily reflected a reduction of the future income
taxes asset related to the reversal of unrealized losses on investments at the end of 2008 as a result of 2009
appreciation, while the decrease in income taxes payable was primarily attributable to greater income tax payments
in 2009 as a result of significant realized investment gains and net earnings in 2008. Shareholders’ equity increased by
$798.5 to $3,617.0 primarily as a result of net earnings ($486.9), a $354.7 increase in accumulated other compre-
hensive income (principally increased unrealized gains on available for sale common stocks and bonds), and the
impact of purchase price adjustments recorded by Fairfax on the privatization of OdysseyRe and recognized in the
OdysseyRe reporting segment, partially offset by the effect of common and preferred share repurchases ($90.9) and
common and preferred share dividends paid ($18.6) during the year.

OdysseyRe’s investments in Fairfax affiliates as at December 31, 2009 consisted of:

Affiliate

TRG Holdings

Fairfax Asia

Advent

% interest

13.0

26.2

21.7

For more information on OdysseyRe’s results, please see its 10-K report for 2009 and its 2009 Annual Review, which
are posted on its website www.odysseyre.com.

Reinsurance – Other

In the latter part of 2008, the company increased its investment in Advent to 66.7% and commenced consolidation
of Advent’s assets and liabilities and results of operations in the third quarter of 2008. In the first quarter of 2009, the
company acquired a 100% interest in Polish Re, and Polish Re’s assets and liabilities and results of operations were
included in the company’s consolidated financial reporting. During the fourth quarter of 2009, the company
completed the acquisition of the outstanding common shares of Advent, other than those shares not already owned
by the company and its affiliates. These transactions are described in greater detail in note 18. Commencing in the
first quarter of 2008, the results for Reinsurance – Other were reported excluding the operating results of nSpire Re’s
former Group Re business (nSpire Re had prior to that time ceased to participate in new Group Re business).

CRC (Bermuda) and Wentworth may participate in certain of the reinsurance programs of Fairfax’s subsidiaries, by quota
share or through participation in those subsidiaries’ third party reinsurance programs on the same terms and pricing as
the third party reinsurers, consistent with the company’s objective of retaining more business for its own account during
periods of favourable market conditions. That participation and, since 2004, certain third party business of CRC
(Bermuda) and Wentworth is reported as “Group Re”. Group Re’s activities are managed by Fairfax. Group Re’s cumulative
pre-tax income, since its inception in 2002 to 2009 inclusive and including business derived from Fairfax subsidiaries and
third party insurers and reinsurers, was $151.4, notwithstanding its hurricane-related $80.0 pre-tax loss in 2005.

122

2009

2008

2007

Group Re Advent(1) Polish Re(2)

Inter-
company

Underwriting profit (loss)

(10.3)

21.6

0.6

Combined ratio

Loss & LAE
Commissions
Underwriting expense

Gross premiums written

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned

Underwriting profit (loss)
Interest and dividends

Operating income (loss)
Net gains (losses) on

investments

Pre-tax income (loss) before

interest and other

Net income (loss) after taxes

77.5%
25.2%
1.3%

71.2%
14.1%
7.2%

76.3%
18.4%
4.5%

104.0%

92.5%

99.2%

263.7

263.7

255.2

(10.3)
15.6

5.3

386.1

277.0

289.6

21.6
17.8

39.4

(22.5)

(11.0)

(17.2)

(14.2)

28.4

6.7

88.4

79.1

83.3

0.6
4.1

4.7

7.7

12.4

11.3

Total Group Re

Advent(1)

Total Group Re

11.9

(22.7)

(22.3)

(45.0)

10.9

74.4%
19.2%
4.5%

79.3%
30.6%
2.0%

96.3% 84.3%
23.8% 28.6%
3.7%

8.1%

54.6%
39.1%
2.1%

98.1% 111.9% 128.2% 116.6%

95.8%

(49.9)

688.3

185.4

619.8

185.5

628.1

190.8

60.4

40.6

78.8

245.8

226.1

269.6

11.9
37.5

49.4

(22.7)
22.4

(22.3)
7.7

(45.0)
30.1

(0.3)

(14.6)

(14.9)

(25.8)

40.5

(12.4)

28.1

23.6

3.8

40.2

49.2

(27.0)

(20.2)

13.2

29.0

250.2

251.2

258.4

10.9
25.1

36.0

8.9

44.9

44.9

–

–
–
–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

(1) These results differ from those published by Advent primarily due to differences in classification between Canadian GAAP

and IFRS.

(2) These results differ from those published by Polish Re primarily due to differences between Canadian and Polish GAAP.

Improved underwriting results for the Reinsurance – Other segment in 2009 included a combined ratio of 98.1% and
underwriting profit of $11.9, compared to 116.6% and an underwriting loss of $45.0 respectively in 2008, with 2008
underwriting results reflecting the significant impact of U.S. hurricane losses. In 2009, net adverse development of prior
years’ reserves of 5.1 combined ratio points ($32.2) primarily related to Group Re’s 2002 and prior years’ losses ceded by
Northbridge and increased losses at Advent primarily related to Hurricane Ike (compared to net favourable develop-
ment in 2008 of 1.2 combined ratio points or $3.2). With fewer large catastrophe events in 2009 compared to 2008,
current period catastrophe losses in 2009 totaled 4.0 combined ratio points ($24.8 net of reinstatement premiums) and
related principally to Advent’s property catastrophe business, compared to 32.9 combined ratio points ($89.9 net of
reinstatement premiums) for Advent and Group Re in 2008, primarily related to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

The Reinsurance – Other segment had a total underwriting loss of $45.0 and a combined ratio of 116.6% in 2008 (Group
Re 111.9%, Advent 128.2%). Group Re had an underwriting loss of $22.7 and a combined ratio of 111.9% in 2008,
compared to a $10.9 underwriting profit and a combined ratio of 95.8% in 2007. Group Re’s results for 2008 included the
impact of incurred losses of 6.8 combined ratio points ($13.0) related to the CTR life portfolio and 1.2 combined ratio
points ($2.4) of net adverse development of prior years’ reserves (compared to a benefit of 11.0 combined ratio points
($28.4) in 2007). Advent had an underwriting loss of $22.3 and a combined ratio of 128.2% for the portion of 2008 (since
September 11, 2008) that its results were included in the consolidated Fairfax results. These 2008 results included the
impact of catastrophe losses related to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav (99.4 combined ratio points, $83.8 net of reinstatement
premiums) and net favourable development of prior years’ reserves (7.1 combined ratio points, $5.6). Advent’s under-
writing results, and particularly its combined ratio, as reported above in Fairfax’s business segment reporting was
adversely impacted by virtue of the inclusion of Advent’s net earned premiums only from September 11, 2008, concurrent
with the inclusion since that date of significant incurred catastrophe losses from Hurricane Ike. Prior to giving effect to the
significant losses related to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, Advent’s combined ratio in 2008 was 28.8%.

Gross premiums written and net premiums written in 2009 by the Reinsurance – Other segment compared to 2008
increased significantly as a result of the consolidation of Advent and Polish Re and increased activity at Group Re.

123

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Advent’s net premiums written (as well as its net premiums earned and net claims incurred) included $91.3 of
reinsurance-to-close premiums related to the closure of Syndicate 2 into Syndicate 3330, an increase in Syndicate
3330 capacity from approximately 45% to 100%, and an increase in Syndicate 780 capacity from 80.4% to 83.7%.
Increased gross premiums written by Group Re in 2009 included $42.3 related to a quota share contract with Advent
(40% of Advent’s property reinsurance business) and increased third party business, principally related to property
catastrophe covers. Increased underwriting profit and interest and dividend income, partially offset by decreased net
gains on investments, and including the effect of the inclusion of the results of Advent and Polish Re, produced
increased pre-tax income before interest and other of $23.6 compared to $13.2 in 2008.

Gross premiums written and net premiums written in 2008 by the Reinsurance – Other segment compared to 2007
reflected the consolidation of Advent and the significant year-over-year decline in premiums written by Group Re.
Increasingly competitive conditions in reinsurance markets accounted for declines in gross premiums written and
net premiums written in 2008 by Group Re compared to 2007 of 25.9% and 26.2% respectively. In 2008, an
underwriting loss, primarily resulting from catastrophe losses, partially offset by increased net gains on investments,
produced reduced net income of $29.0 compared to $44.9 in 2007.

In 2009, Fairfax invested $39.9 and incurred $2.4 in start-up costs related to Fairfax Brasil, which expects to offer a
comprehensive range of commercial property and casualty coverages to the Brazilian market in 2010, subject to
receipt of final regulatory approval from the Brazilian insurance regulator.

Set out below are the balance sheets for Reinsurance – Other as at December 31, 2009 and 2008.

Assets

Accounts receivable and other

Recoverable from reinsurers
Portfolio investments

Deferred premium acquisition costs

Future income taxes

Premises and equipment
Goodwill and intangible assets

Due from affiliates

Other assets
Investments in Fairfax affiliates

Group Re Advent(1) Polish Re(2)

Inter-
company

Total Group Re Advent(1)

Total

2009

2008

53.9

0.4
821.0

3.9

–

–
–

9.2

–
69.1

105.9

99.9
638.9

13.5

29.9

0.4
4.3

–

1.2
–

15.6

14.6
142.3

6.8

–

1.6
14.4

–

–
–

(16.8)

(26.0)
–

158.6

88.9
1,602.2

–

–

–
–

–

–
–

24.2

29.9

2.0
18.7

9.2

1.2
69.1

28.4

0.4
655.6

3.1

–

–
–

0.9

–
75.9

93.6

93.0
535.7

14.6

30.3

0.7
3.9

–

2.3
–

122.0

93.4
1,191.3

17.7

30.3

0.7
3.9

0.9

2.3
75.9

Total assets

957.5

894.0

195.3

(42.8)

2,004.0

764.3

774.1

1,538.4

Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Due to affiliates

Funds withheld payable to reinsurers
Provision for claims

Unearned premiums

Future income taxes payable
Long term debt

0.6

–

–
509.6

114.6

–
–

18.5

–

39.2
520.1

63.0

–
94.2

6.8

0.3

0.1
78.1

26.3

2.0
–

–

–

25.9

0.3

(18.1)
(17.0)

(7.7)

21.2
1,090.8

196.2

–
–

2.0
94.2

–

–

0.2
404.4

91.6

–
–

11.8

–

28.6
452.1

61.9

–
93.4

11.8

–

28.8
856.5

153.5

–
93.4

Total liabilities

624.8

735.0

113.6

(42.8)

1,430.6

496.2

647.8

1,144.0

Shareholders’ equity

332.7

159.0

81.7

–

573.4

268.1

126.3

394.4

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

957.5

894.0

195.3

(42.8)

2,004.0

764.3

774.1

1,538.4

(1) This balance sheet differs from that published by Advent primarily due to differences in classification between Canadian GAAP
and IFRS and purchase accounting adjustments (principally goodwill) which arose on the privatization of Advent. Excluding
these purchase accounting adjustments, Advent’s Canadian GAAP shareholders’ equity was $165.6 at December 31, 2009.

(2) This balance sheet differs from that published by Polish Re primarily due to differences between Canadian and Polish
GAAP and purchase accounting adjustments (principally goodwill and intangible assets) which arose on the acquisition of
Polish Re. Excluding these purchase accounting adjustments, Polish Re’s Canadian GAAP shareholders’ equity was $63.0
at December 31, 2009.

124

Significant changes to the 2009 balance sheet compared to the 2008 balance sheet related primarily to the acquisition
of a 100% interest in Polish Re adding $142.3 and $78.1 to portfolio investments and provision for claims respectively
and the increased level of underwriting activity by Group Re and Advent in 2009. Portfolio investments increased at
Group Re by $165.4 primarily reflecting the currency translation effect of the depreciation of the U.S. dollar relative
to the Canadian dollar at CRC (Bermuda) and investment portfolio appreciation at Wentworth. The majority of the
increase in the balance sheet of Advent resulted from the increased ownership share of Syndicate 3330 (100%)
compared with that of Syndicate 2 (45%). Shareholders’ equity increased by $179.0 to $573.4 primarily as a result of
the addition of Polish Re to the reporting segment, the impact of unrealized foreign currency translation gains due to
the depreciation of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar at CRC (Bermuda), a $23.5 capital contribution and
the appreciation of available for sale securities.

Reinsurance – Other’s investments in Fairfax affiliates as at December 31, 2009 consisted of:

Affiliate

Northbridge

Advent

Ridley

Runoff

% interest

1.5

18.8

25.1

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 runoff management expertise and experienced personnel of
TRG, and a wholly-owned insurance subsidiary in runoff, International Insurance Company (“IIC”). The runoff
segment currently consists of two groups: the U.S. runoff group, consisting of the company resulting from the
December 2002 merger of TIG Insurance Company and IIC and the Fairmont legal entities placed in runoff on
January 1, 2006, and the European runoff group, consisting of RiverStone Insurance UK and nSpire Re. Both groups
are managed by the dedicated TRG runoff management operation, identified under the RiverStone name, which has
197 employees in the U.S. and the U.K.

Set out below is a summary of the operating results of Runoff for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

Gross premiums written

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned
Losses on claims
Operating expenses
Interest and dividends

Operating loss
Net gains on investments

Pre-tax income before interest and other

2009
1.1

2008
12.6

2007
8.0

(0.5)

11.1

(10.4)

–
(57.6)
(94.8)
54.4

17.4
(83.2)
(109.6)
68.2

(3.3)
(107.2)
(70.3)
91.6

(98.0)
129.2

(107.2)
499.8

(89.2)
276.8

31.2

392.6

187.6

Commencing in the first quarter of 2008 (prior to which time nSpire Re had ceased to participate in new Group Re
business), nSpire Re’s former Group Re business was reported in Runoff such that Runoff now includes all of the
operating results of nSpire Re. Commencing in 2007, results of Runoff were reported excluding the operating results
of Group Re.

The Runoff segment reported pre-tax income of $31.2 in 2009 compared to $392.6 in 2008, reflecting a decreased
operating loss of $98.0 and lower net gains on investments of $129.2. Decreased operating expenses, decreased
incurred losses and a decline in interest and dividend income resulted in a decreased operating loss of $98.0 in 2009
compared to an operating loss of $107.2 in 2008. Incurred losses of $57.6 in 2009 included $100.2 of net strength-
ening of loss reserves in U.S. Runoff (including $36.8 of strengthening of workers’ compensation and latent reserves,
$59.8 of reinsurance recoverable balances written off, and net losses of $3.6 resulting from third quarter

125

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

commutation losses of $21.1 and fourth quarter commutation gains of $17.5 (as described in note 7)), partially offset
by $42.6 of net favourable development of reserves across all lines in European Runoff. Incurred losses of $83.2 in
2008 included $68.0 primarily related to strengthening of prior years’ U.S. workers’ compensation claims reserves
and losses of $13.0 on reinsurance commutations, partially offset by modest net favourable development of prior
years’ reserves in Europe. Reduced operating expenses in 2009 reflected the impact of operating cost reduction
initiatives undertaken in 2008 and 2009 (operating expenses in 2008 included $11.9 in related severance and other
costs). Net investment gains in 2009 of $129.2 (compared to net gains of $499.8 in 2008) included $96.2 of net gains
on bonds, $92.1 of net gains on common stocks and equity derivatives and $6.0 of net gains related to foreign
currency, partially offset by $35.4 of net losses related to credit default swaps and other derivatives and $29.8 of other
than temporary impairments recorded on common stocks and bonds. Net gains on investments of $499.8 in 2008
were principally comprised of $311.5 of net gains related to credit default swaps, $142.8 of net gains on common
stocks and equity derivatives and $126.5 of net gains on bonds, partially offset by $76.5 of other than temporary
impairments recorded on common stocks and bonds and $5.4 of net losses related to foreign currency.

The Runoff segment generated pre-tax income before interest and other of $392.6 in 2008, reflecting an increased
operating loss of $107.2 compared to 2007 and increased net gains on investments of $499.8 compared to $276.8 in
2007 (principally comprised of net gains related to credit default swaps of $238.7, net gains on bonds of $7.4, net
gains on common stocks and equity derivatives of $5.2 and net gains related to foreign currency of $19.4, partially
offset by other than temporary impairments recorded on common stock and bond investments of $3.3). Incurred
losses on claims in 2008 included $68.0 primarily related to strengthening of prior years’ U.S. workers’ compensation
claims reserves and losses on reinsurance commutations, partially offset by net favourable development of prior
years’ reserves in Europe. Incurred losses on claims in 2007 included $9.5 of net favourable reserve development in
European runoff and the impact of $100.4 of net unfavourable reserve development in U.S. runoff, primarily
attributable to strengthening of TIG reserves for workers’ compensation and uncollectible reinsurance. Operating
expenses in 2008 included $11.9 related to severance and related costs. Operating expenses in 2007 of $70.3 benefited
from measures undertaken as part of the restructuring of the runoff organization in 2006 and 2007. Lower incurred
losses on claims and loss adjustment expenses and higher net premiums earned, partially offset by increased
operating expenses and a decline in interest and dividends, resulted in an increased operating loss of $107.2 in
2008 compared to $89.2 in 2007.

Runoff cash flow may be volatile as to timing and amounts, with potential variability arising principally from the
requirement to pay gross claims initially while third party reinsurance is only collected subsequently in accordance
with its terms and from the delay, until some time after claims are paid, of the release of assets pledged to secure the
payment of those claims. During 2009, 2008 and 2007, the runoff group did not require cash flow funding from
Fairfax. Based upon runoff’s projected plans and absent unplanned adverse developments, it is expected that in the
future runoff will not require any cash flow funding from Fairfax that would be significant in relation to holding
company cash resources.

126

Set out below are the balance sheets for Runoff as at December 31, 2009 and 2008.

Assets
Accounts receivable and other
Recoverable from reinsurers
Portfolio investments
Deferred premium acquisition costs
Future income taxes
Premises and equipment
Goodwill and intangible assets
Due from affiliates
Other assets
Investments in Fairfax affiliates

Total assets

Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Income taxes payable
Short sale and derivative obligations
Due to affiliates
Funds withheld payable to reinsurers
Provision for claims
Unearned premiums

Total liabilities

Shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

2009

2008

228.3
1,378.0
2,413.8
–
552.7
1.4
–
4.8
25.1
309.6

142.7
1,927.8
2,478.1
0.1
637.7
2.2
0.1
–
20.5
274.4

4,913.7

5,483.6

177.2
0.3
7.2
–
21.3
3,265.7
–

243.3
2.5
11.6
5.3
20.7
3,806.2
0.4

3,471.7

4,090.0

1,442.0

1,393.6

4,913.7

5,483.6

The balance sheet for Runoff represents the sum of individual entity balance sheets even though the individual
entities are not necessarily a part of the same ownership structure. The European runoff balance sheet excludes the
approximately $0.9 billion of capital of nSpire Re related to the acquisition financing of the U.S. insurance and
reinsurance companies. The following commentary relates to the balance sheet as at December 31, 2009.

Approximately $557.2 and $252.8 of the total $2,413.8 of cash and short term investments and portfolio investments
held at December 31, 2009 by U.S. runoff and European runoff, respectively, were pledged in the ordinary course of
carrying on their business, to support insurance and reinsurance obligations. Reinsurance recoverables included, in
the U.S. runoff segment, $345.7 emanating from IIC, predominantly representing reinsurance recoverables on
asbestos, pollution and health hazard (APH) claims, and included, in the European runoff segment, $23.3 of
reinsurance recoverables on APH claims.

Significant changes to the 2009 balance sheet of the Runoff segment compared to 2008 primarily related to the
continued progress achieved by Runoff management, as reflected by the $540.5 decline in the provision for claims
and the $549.8 decrease in recoverable from reinsurers (including the reductions as a result of reinsurance com-
mutations, certain of which are described in note 7).

The $552.7 future income taxes asset is entirely attributable to the U.S. runoff segment. The net operating losses in
the European runoff segment have a full valuation allowance recorded against them. The $552.7 future income taxes
asset on the U.S. runoff balance sheet consisted principally of $521.3 of capitalized U.S. operating losses, which have
been used by other Fairfax subsidiaries within the U.S. consolidated tax group (and have therefore been eliminated in
the preparation of the company’s consolidated balance sheet) but which remain with the U.S. runoff companies on a
stand-alone basis, and $31.4 of temporary differences.

127

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Runoff’s investments in Fairfax affiliates as at December 31, 2009 consist of:

Affiliate

OdysseyRe

Northbridge

Advent

TRG Holdings

Other(1)

Revenue
Costs and expenses

Operating income
Net losses on investments

Pre-tax income before interest and other
Interest expense

Pre-tax income

% interest

19.0

16.4

20.8

8.0

2009

556.4
(544.0)

12.4
–

12.4
(1.0)

11.4

2008

99.4
(98.0)

1.4
–

1.4
(0.4)

1.0

2007

434.5
(401.5)

33.0
(7.6)

25.4
(15.7)

9.7

(1) These results differ from those published by Ridley Inc. primarily due to purchase accounting adjustments recorded by

Fairfax related to the acquisition of Ridley.

The Other business segment comprises the animal nutrition business (Ridley) for the years ended December 31, 2009
and 2008 and the claims adjusting, appraisal and loss management services business (Cunningham Lindsey) for the
year ended December 31, 2007. During December 2007, the company sold a 55.4% interest in the Cunningham
Lindsey operating companies and commenced equity accounting for the retained interests in those operations,
pursuant to the transaction described in note 18.

During the fourth quarter of 2008, the company acquired a 67.9% interest in Ridley, pursuant to the transaction
described in note 18, and Ridley’s assets and liabilities and results of operations were included in the company’s
consolidated financial reporting. The results of operations for Ridley (as included in Fairfax’s 2008 financial
reporting) comprised the fifty-eight day period beginning November 4, 2008 and ended December 31, 2008. Ridley’s
financial results in 2009 reflected the impact of improved gross profits and increased sales volumes across all of
Ridley’s reporting segments. Improved operating margins reflected the successful achievement of cost reductions and
expense management initiatives. Ridley is one of North America’s leading commercial animal nutrition companies.

128

Set out below are the balance sheets for Other as at December 31, 2009 and 2008.

Assets
Accounts receivable and other
Portfolio investments
Future income taxes
Premises and equipment
Goodwill and intangible assets
Other assets

Total assets

Liabilities
Subsidiary indebtedness
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Income taxes payable
Short sale and derivative obligations
Future income taxes payable
Long term debt

Total liabilities
Shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Interest and Dividends

2009

2008

39.2
1.6
1.0
87.3
21.9
54.1

45.2
6.2
4.7
85.6
25.3
60.8

205.1

227.8

12.1
45.5
0.1
0.3
22.8
0.6

21.1
59.4
–
–
28.6
0.7

81.4
123.7

109.8
118.0

205.1

227.8

Interest and dividend income earned by the company’s insurance and reinsurance operations in 2009 increased to
$557.0 from $476.1 in 2008, primarily reflecting the impact of higher yielding municipal and other tax exempt debt
securities and corporate bonds purchased in the fourth quarter of 2008 and in 2009 with the proceeds of sale of lower
yielding government debt securities, as well as the inclusion of the interest and dividend income of Polish Re. Interest
income on a tax-equivalent basis increased significantly in 2009 compared to 2008 (tax advantaged bond holdings of
$4,550.2 as at December 31, 2009 compared to $4,104.6 as at December 31, 2008).

Interest and dividend income earned by the company’s insurance and reinsurance operations in 2008 decreased to
$476.1 from $604.4 in 2007 primarily due to losses recorded on equity method investments and the effect of lower
short term interest rates prevailing in 2008 compared to 2007, partially offset by the inclusion of interest and
dividend income of Advent in 2008 results.

Consolidated interest and dividend income in 2009 increased 13.8% to $712.7 from $626.4 in the twelve months of
2008, primarily due to the inclusion of Advent and Polish Re in 2009 and the impact of purchases of higher yielding
municipal and other tax exempt debt securities and corporate bonds in the fourth quarter of 2008 and in 2009 with
the proceeds of sale of lower yielding government debt securities.

Consolidated interest and dividend income decreased 17.7% to $626.4 in 2008 from $761.0 in 2007, principally due
to the year-over-year decline in short term interest rates, despite a $1.6 billion increase in the average investment
portfolio in 2008 compared to 2007, including the effect of the consolidation of Advent in 2008.

Net Gains on Investments

Net gains on investments earned by the company’s insurance and reinsurance operations decreased in 2009 to $668.0
from $1,381.8 in 2008. Consolidated net gains on investments in 2009 of $944.5 (2008 – $2,570.7; 2007 – $1,665.9)
included net gains of $129.2 (2008 – $499.8; 2007 – $276.8) for the runoff companies, $147.3 (2008 – $689.1; 2007 –
$371.2) of net gains for the holding company and net losses of nil (2008 – nil; 2007 – $7.6) for the Cunningham
Lindsey operations in addition to the net investment gains of the insurance and reinsurance operating companies.
Consolidated net gains on investments in 2009 of $944.5 included $937.9 of net gains on bonds, $463.3 of net gains
on common stocks and equity derivatives and $26.6 of net gains on preferred stocks, partially offset by $340.0 of

129

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

other than temporary impairments recorded on common stock and bond investments, $147.2 of net losses related to
credit default swaps and other derivatives and $17.6 of net losses related to foreign currency. Consolidated net gains
on investments in 2008 of $2,570.7 included $2,096.8 of net gains on common stocks and equity derivatives,
$1,305.7 of net gains related to credit default swaps and other derivatives and $218.9 of net gains on bonds, partially
offset by $1,011.8 of other than temporary impairments recorded on common stocks and bonds and $45.4 of net
losses related to foreign currency. Consolidated net gains on investments of $1,665.9 in 2007 included net gains of
$1,141.3 related to credit default swaps, a gain of $220.5 on the disposition of the company’s investment in Hub, net
gains of $149.5 related to equity and equity index total return swaps and short positions, net gains on common stocks
of $138.8 and net gains of $137.5 related to foreign currency, partially offset by $109.0 recorded as other than
temporary impairments on common stock and bond investments.

Fairfax holds significant investments in equities and equity-related securities, which the company believes will
significantly appreciate in value over time. The market value and the liquidity of these investments are volatile and
may vary dramatically either up or down in short periods, and their ultimate value will therefore only be known over
the long term. During the third quarter of 2009, as a result of the rapid increase in the valuation level of worldwide
equity markets, the company determined to protect a portion of its equity and equity-related holdings against a
potential decline in equity markets by way of short positions effected through equity index total return swaps. At the
inception of the short positions, the resulting equity hedge represented approximately one-quarter of the company’s
equity and equity-related holdings. At year-end, as a result of decreased equity and equity-related holdings and
increased short positions, the equity hedges had increased to approximately 30%. The company believes that the
equity hedges will be reasonably effective in protecting that proportion of the company’s equity and equity-related
holdings to which the hedges relate; however, due to a lack of a perfect correlation between the hedged items and the
hedging items, combined with other market uncertainties, it is not possible to estimate the reasonably likely future
impact of the company’s economic hedging programs related to equity risk.

As of December 31, 2009, the company owned $5.9 billion (2008 – $8.9 billion) notional amount of credit default
swaps with an average term to maturity of 2.4 years (2008 – 3.3 years), an original cost of $114.8 (2008 – $161.5) and a
fair value of $71.6 (2008 – $415.0). As the average remaining life of a contract declines, the fair value of the contract
(excluding the impact of credit spreads) will generally decline. The initial premium paid for each credit default swap
contract was recorded as a derivative asset and was subsequently adjusted for changes in the unrealized market value
of the contract at each balance sheet date. Changes in the unrealized market value of the contract were recorded as
net gains (losses) on investments in the company’s consolidated statements of earnings at each balance sheet date,
with a corresponding adjustment to the carrying value of the derivative asset.

The purchased credit protection positions held by the company at December 31, 2009 and 2008 comprised a diversified
portfolio of industry-standard credit default swap contracts referenced to approximately two dozen entities in the
global financial services industry. At the inception of a purchase of credit protection in the form of a credit default swap
(or in very limited instances, at regular intervals during the term of the credit default swap contract), the company paid
a cash premium to the counterparty for the right to recover any decrease in value of the underlying debt security that
resulted from a credit event related to the referenced issuer for a period ranging from five to seven years from the
contract’s inception. The credit events, as defined by the respective credit default swap contracts establishing the rights
to recover amounts from the counterparties, are comprised of ISDA standard credit events which are: bankruptcy,
obligation acceleration, obligation default, failure to pay, repudiation/moratorium and restructuring. All credit default
swap contracts held by the company had been entered into with Citibank, Deutsche Bank AG, Barclays Bank PLC or the
Bank of Montreal as the counterparty, with contracts referenced to certain issuers held with more than one of these
counterparties. As the company’s only exposure to loss on these contracts stems from the initial premium paid in cash
to enter into the contract at inception, there are no requirements for the company to post collateral with respect to
these contracts. With the exception of the Bank of Montreal (with which the company placed only one small contract),
the bank counterparties are required to post government debt securities as collateral in support of their total obligation
owed to the company for all credit default swap contracts outstanding once such total obligation, aggregated for all
contracts with that counterparty, exceeds a threshold amount (except for Citibank where there was no threshold), as
defined in the individual master agreements with each counterparty.

During 2009, the company sold $3,042.9 (2008 – $11,629.8; 2007 – $965.5) notional amount of credit default swaps
for proceeds of $231.6 (2008 – $2,048.7; 2007 – $199.3) and recorded net gains on sale of $46.2 (2008 – $1,047.5;
2007 – $185.1) and net mark-to-market losses of $160.8 (2008 – net gains of $238.9; 2007 – net gains of

130

$956.2) in respect of positions remaining open at year end. Sales of credit default swap contracts during 2009 and
2008 caused the company to reverse any previously recorded unrealized market value changes since the inception of
the contract and to record the actual amount of the final cash settlement through net gains (losses) on investments in
the consolidated statements of earnings.

The following table and accompanying commentary summarize the sales of credit default swaps since the inception
of this investment position, and show the cumulative realized and unrealized gains on credit default swaps as of
December 31, 2009. Note that non-GAAP measures are used in this illustrative summary, as explained below.

FY 2007
FY 2008
FY 2009

Cumulative sales since inception
Remaining credit default swap positions at

December 31, 2009

Notional
amount

Original
acquisition cost

Sale
proceeds

965.5
11,629.8
3,042.9

15,638.2

25.7
245.8
46.9

199.3
2,048.7
231.6

318.4

2,479.6

Excess of sale
proceeds over
original
acquisition cost

173.6
1,802.9
184.7

2,161.2

5,926.2

114.8

71.6(1)

(43.2)(2)

Cumulative realized and unrealized from inception

21,564.4

433.2

2,551.2

2,118.0

(1) Market value as of December 31, 2009

(2) Unrealized gain (measured using original acquisition cost) as of December 31, 2009

The company has sold $15.64 billion notional amount of credit default swaps since inception with an original
acquisition cost of $318.4 for cash proceeds of $2.48 billion and a cumulative gain (measured using original
acquisition cost) of $2.16 billion. As of December 31, 2009, the remaining $5.93 billion notional amount of credit
default swaps had a market value of $71.6 and an original acquisition cost of $114.8, representing an unrealized loss
(measured using original acquisition cost) of $43.2.

The credit default swaps are extremely volatile, with the result that their market value and their liquidity may vary
dramatically either up or down in short periods, and their ultimate value will therefore only be known upon their
disposition. The timing and amount of changes in fair value of fixed income securities and recoverable from
reinsurers are by their nature uncertain. As a result of these data limitations and market uncertainties, it is not
possible to estimate the reasonably likely future impact of the company’s economic hedging programs related to
credit risk.

Interest Expense

Consolidated interest expense increased 4.9% to $166.3 in 2009 from $158.6 in 2008, primarily reflecting the
additional interest expense incurred following the company’s third quarter issuance of Cdn$400.0 of senior unse-
cured notes, partially offset by decreased interest expense as a result of lower subsidiary debt in 2009 compared to
2008.

Consolidated interest expense in 2008 decreased to $158.6 from $209.5 in 2007, primarily reflecting the significant
year-over-year reductions in debt at the holding company and subsidiaries, and the inclusion in 2007 interest
expense of one-time costs of $21.2 incurred in the Crum & Forster debt offering and tender offer in 2007, partially

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offset by additional interest expense as a result of the consolidation of Advent and Ridley. Consolidated interest
expense is comprised of the following:

Fairfax
Crum & Forster
Crum & Forster debt offering and tender offer costs
OdysseyRe
Cunningham Lindsey
Advent
Ridley

2009

2008

2007

101.4
27.8
–
31.0
–
5.1
1.0

89.1
28.3
–
34.2
4.0
2.6
0.4

105.1
29.8
21.2
37.7
15.7
–
–

166.3

158.6

209.5

Corporate Overhead and Other

Corporate overhead and other consists of the expenses of all of the group holding companies, net of the company’s
investment management and administration fees and investment income, including net investment gains and
losses, earned on holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities, and is comprised of the
following:

Fairfax corporate overhead
Subsidiary holding companies corporate overhead
Holding company interest and dividends
Holding company net gains on investments
Investment management and administration fees

2009

2008

2007

88.3
64.3
(36.4)
(147.3)
(64.9)

94.7
44.6
(28.8)
(689.1)
(53.3)

110.0
38.1
(19.3)
(371.2)
(45.7)

(96.0)

(631.9)

(288.1)

Fairfax corporate overhead expense in 2009 declined to $88.3 from $94.7 in 2008, primarily reflecting lower legal
expenses, partially offset by increased compensation expenses. Subsidiary holding companies corporate overhead
expenses increased from $44.6 in 2008 to $64.3 in 2009, principally as a result of increased compensation and legal
expenses, including expenses related to the OdysseyRe privatization. Interest and dividend income increased in
2009, reflecting increased average holdings of cash, short term investments and marketable securities during the year.
Net investment gains were $147.3 in 2009 (including $121.1 of net gains on common stocks and equity derivatives,
$68.2 of net gains on bonds, $8.2 of net gains related to foreign currency and $7.9 of net gains on preferred stocks,
partially offset by $72.0 of net losses related to credit default swaps and other derivatives and $10.8 of other than
temporary impairments recorded on common stocks and bonds), compared to net investment gains of $689.1 in
2008 (including $693.0 of net gains on common stocks and equity derivatives and $209.4 of net gains related to credit
default swaps and other derivatives, partially offset by $77.2 of other than temporary impairments recorded on
common stocks and bonds, $142.8 of net losses on bonds and $15.2 of net losses related to foreign currency).

Fairfax corporate overhead expense in 2008 decreased to $94.7 from $110.0 in 2007, primarily as a result of the
recognition of negative goodwill related to the company’s increased investment in Advent, and the effect of the
inclusion in 2007 of a capital tax reassessment related to prior taxation years of $10.1, partially offset by increased
legal and consulting fees. Subsidiary holding companies corporate overhead expense in 2008 increased to $44.6 from
$39.0 in 2007, primarily due to subsidiaries’ increased charitable donations, partially offset by year-over-year declines
in office and general expenses and compensation expense. Corporate overhead expenses incurred in 2008 were more
than offset by investment income earned (including net gains on investments) on holding company cash, short term
investments and marketable securities and by investment management and administration fees earned. Net
investment gains were $689.1 in 2008 compared to net investment gains of $371.2 in 2007 (including $91.1 of
net gains related to common stocks and equity derivatives, $247.4 of net gains related to credit default swaps, $20.8 of
net gains related to foreign currency and $10.1 of net gains on bonds).

132

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate of 17.8% implicit in the $214.9 provision for income taxes in 2009 differed from the
company’s statutory income tax rate of 33.0% primarily as a result of the effect of non-taxable investment income in
the U.S. tax group (including dividend income and interest on bond investments in U.S. states and municipalities),
income earned in jurisdictions where the corporate income tax rate is lower than the company’s statutory income tax
rate, the recognition of the benefit of previously unrecorded accumulated income tax losses, the release of $30.7 of
income tax provisions subsequent to the completion of examinations of the tax filings of prior years by taxation
authorities, and adjustments for prior years, partially offset by income taxes on unrealized foreign currency gains on
the company’s publicly issued debt securities.

The effective income tax rate of 30.9% implicit in the $755.6 provision for income taxes in 2008 differed from the
company’s statutory income tax rate of 33.5% primarily as a result of the effect of income earned in jurisdictions
where the corporate income tax rate is lower than the company’s statutory income tax rate and where the benefit of
accumulated income tax losses is unrecorded, the release of $23.3 of income tax provisions subsequent to the
completion of examinations of the tax filings of prior years by taxation authorities, and the effect of reduced
unrealized foreign currency gains on the company’s publicly issued debt securities, partially offset by the effect of the
unrecorded tax benefit on unrealized losses arising from other than temporary impairments recorded on common
stock and bond investments.

The effective income tax rate of 32.9% implicit in the $711.1 provision for income taxes in 2007 differed from the
company’s statutory income tax rate of 36.1% primarily as a result of the effects of the non-taxable portion of the gain
recognized on the sale of Hub by the Canadian subsidiaries and of income earned in jurisdictions where the corporate
income tax rate is lower than the company’s statutory income tax rate and where the benefit of accumulated income
tax losses is unrecorded.

Non-controlling Interests

Non-controlling interests in the consolidated statements of earnings arose from the following subsidiaries:

OdysseyRe
Northbridge
Ridley
Advent
Cunningham Lindsey

2009

2008

2007

130.1
2.7
0.3
0.8
–

209.9
18.4
0.2
(13.6)
–

241.0
111.0
–
–
1.5

133.9

214.9

353.5

During the first quarter of 2009, Fairfax completed the privatization of Northbridge, as described in note 18. During
the fourth quarter of 2009, the company completed the acquisition of the outstanding common shares of OdysseyRe
and Advent not already owned by Fairfax, as described in note 18.

During 2009 (prior to the OdysseyRe privatization), OdysseyRe purchased on the open market approximately
1.8 million (2008 – 9.5 million) of its common shares pursuant to its previously announced common share repur-
chase programme, increasing the company’s ownership of OdysseyRe to 72.6% as at September 30, 2009. During the
first quarter of 2009, the company completed the previously announced Northbridge going-private transaction,
increasing the company’s ownership of Northbridge to 100% (this transaction is described in note 18). During 2008,
Northbridge purchased on the open market 2.3 million of its common shares pursuant to its previously announced
common share repurchase programme, increasing the company’s ownership of Northbridge to 63.6% prior to its
privatization. Upon increasing the company’s total interest in Advent to 58.5% in the third quarter of 2008 from
44.5%, the company commenced the consolidation of Advent’s results of operations and the related non-controlling
interest in its consolidated statements of earnings. During the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first six months of 2009,
the company purchased an additional 8.1% and 0.1% interest in Advent respectively, increasing the company’s total
ownership interest in Advent to 66.7% (27.1 million common shares). On July 17, 2009, the company announced a
formal offer to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Advent, other than those shares already owned by

133

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Fairfax and its affiliates, for 220 U.K. pence in cash per common share. Upon acquiring a 67.9% interest in Ridley in
the fourth quarter of 2008 (an additional 3.1% interest was acquired in 2009), the company commenced the
consolidation of Ridley’s results of operations and the related non-controlling interest in its consolidated statements
of earnings.

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 Risk Officer at Fairfax, and one or more independent actuaries, including an independent actuary whose report
appears in each Annual Report.

In the ordinary course of carrying on their business, Fairfax’s insurance, reinsurance and runoff companies may
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 U.S. 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 $2.2 billion of cash and investments pledged by the
company’s subsidiaries at December 31, 2009, as described in note 3 to the consolidated financial statements,
represented the aggregate amount as at that date that had been pledged in the ordinary course of business to support
each pledging subsidiary’s respective obligations, as previously described in this paragraph (these pledges do not
involve the cross-collateralization by one group company of another group company’s obligations).

Claims provisions are established by our primary insurance companies by the case method as claims are initially
reported. The provisions are subsequently adjusted as additional information on the estimated ultimate amount of a
claim becomes known during the course of its settlement. Our reinsurance companies rely on initial and subsequent
claims reports received from ceding companies to establish their estimated provisions. In determining the provision
to cover the estimated ultimate liability for all of the company’s insurance and reinsurance obligations, a provision is
also made for management’s calculation of factors affecting the future development of claims including IBNR
(incurred but not reported) based on the volume of business currently in force, the historical experience on claims
and potential changes, such as changes in the underlying book of business, in law and in cost factors.

As time passes, more information about the claims becomes known and provision estimates are consequently
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 may be required before a meaningful comparison of actual
losses to the original provisions can be developed.

134

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.
Favourable development (or redundancies) means that subsequent reserve estimates are lower than originally
indicated, while unfavourable development means that the original reserve estimates were lower than subsequently
indicated. The aggregate net unfavourable development of ($30.3) and ($55.4) in 2009 and 2008 respectively were
comprised as shown in the following table:

Favourable/(Unfavourable)

Insurance

– Canada (Northbridge)

– U.S. (Crum & Forster)

– Asia (Fairfax Asia)

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

– Other

Insurance and reinsurance operating companies

Runoff

Crum & Forster reinsurance commutation

Net reserve development

2009

14.1

25.0

8.1

11.3

(31.2)

27.3

(57.6)

–

(30.3)

2008

63.3

25.2

(3.4)

10.1

(2.3)

92.9

(64.1)

(84.2)

(55.4)

The following table presents a reconciliation of the provision for claims and loss adjustment expense (LAE) for the
insurance, reinsurance and runoff operations for the most recent five years. As shown in the table, the sum of the
provision for claims for all of Fairfax’s insurance, reinsurance and runoff operations was $14,747.1 as at December 31,
2009 – the amount shown as provision for claims on Fairfax’s consolidated balance sheet.

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims and LAE as at December 31

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Total insurance subsidiaries

3,810.4

3,716.3

3,478.3

3,184.0

3,037.3

Reinsurance subsidiaries owned throughout the year(1)
Reinsurance subsidiaries acquired during the year(2)

5,629.6
68.4

4,964.3
372.9

5,051.5
–

4,986.7
–

4,527.0
–

Total reinsurance subsidiaries

5,698.0

5,337.2

5,051.5

4,986.7

4,527.0

Runoff subsidiaries owned throughout the year
Runoff subsidiaries acquired during the year(3)

1,956.7
–

1,989.9
–

2,116.5
–

2,487.9
–

1,759.7
38.2

Total runoff subsidiaries

1,956.7

1,989.9

2,116.5

2.487.9

1,797.9

Net provision for claims and LAE
Reinsurance gross-up

11,465.1
3,282.0

11,043.4
3,685.0

10,646.3
4,401.8

10,658.6
4,843.7

9,362.2
6,872.9

Gross provision for claims and LAE

14,747.1

14,728.4

15,048.1

15,502.3

16,235.1

(1) Including Group Re

(2) Polish Re in 2009 and Advent in 2008

(3) Corifrance in 2005

The fourteen tables that follow show the reserve reconciliation and the reserve development of Northbridge
(Canadian insurance), Crum & Forster (U.S. insurance), Fairfax Asia (Asian insurance), OdysseyRe and Reinsur-
ance – Other (Group Re, Polish Re and Advent) and Runoff’s net provision for claims. Because business is written in
multiple geographic locations and currencies, there will necessarily be some distortions caused by foreign currency
fluctuations. Northbridge tables are presented in Canadian dollars and Crum & Forster, Fairfax Asia, OdysseyRe,
Reinsurance – Other and Runoff tables are presented in U.S. dollars.

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The company endeavours to establish adequate provisions for claims and LAE at the original valuation date, with the
objective of achieving net favourable prior period reserve development at subsequent valuation dates. The reserves
will always be subject to upward or downward development in the future, and future development could be
significantly different from the past due to many unknown factors.

With regard to the five tables that follow that show the calendar year claims reserve development, note that when in
any year there is a redundancy or reserve strengthening related to 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 accident year claims reserve development tables that follow for Northbridge, Crum & Forster and OdysseyRe
show the development of the provision for claims reserves including LAE by accident year commencing in 1999, with
the re-estimated amount of each accident year’s reserve development shown in subsequent years up to December 31,
2009. All claims are attributed back to the year of loss, regardless of when they were reported or adjusted. For example,
Accident Year 2005 represents all claims with a date of loss between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005. The
initial reserves set up at the end of the year are re-evaluated over time to determine their redundancy or deficiency
based on actual payments in full or partial settlements of claims plus current estimates of the reserves for claims still
open or claims still unreported.

Canadian Insurance – Northbridge

The following table shows for Northbridge the provision for claims liability for unpaid losses and LAE as originally
and as currently estimated for the years 2005 through 2009. The favourable or unfavourable development from prior
years has been credited or charged to each year’s earnings.

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims – Northbridge

2009

2006
2007
2008
(In Cdn$ except as indicated)

2005

Provision for claims and LAE at January 1

1,931.8

1,696.0

1,640.2

1,408.7

1,153.9

Incurred losses on claims and LAE

Provision for current accident year’s claims
Foreign exchange effect on claims
Increase (decrease) in provision for prior accident years’

849.4
(36.6)

925.3
59.2

778.4
(46.8)

780.8
0.8

825.9
(5.8)

claims

(16.0)

(67.1)

(31.5)

54.1

(38.1)

Total incurred losses on claims and LAE

796.8

917.4

700.1

835.7

782.0

Payments for losses on claims and LAE

Payments on current accident year’s claims
Payments on prior accident years’ claims

(272.3)
(483.0)

(298.6)
(383.0)

(267.9)
(376.4)

(251.1)
(353.1)

(248.1)
(279.1)

Total payments for losses on claims and LAE

(755.3)

(681.6)

(644.3)

(604.2)

(527.2)

Provision for claims and LAE at December 31
Exchange rate
Provision for claims and LAE at December 31 converted to

1,973.3
0.9539

1,931.8
0.8100

1,696.0
1.0132

1,640.2
0.8593

1,408.7
0.8561

U.S. dollars

1,882.3

1,564.8

1,718.4

1,409.5

1,205.9

136

The following table shows for Northbridge the original provision for claims reserves including LAE at each calendar
year-end commencing in 1999, the subsequent cumulative payments made on account of these years and the
subsequent re-estimated amount of these reserves.

Northbridge’s Calendar Year Claims Reserve Development

As at December 31

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

2005 2006

2007 2008

2009

Calendar year

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

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

603.3 585.5 621.9 728.9 855.4 1,153.9 1,408.7 1,640.2 1,696.0 1,931.8 1,973.3

(In Cdn$)

483.0

383.0

656.0

376.4

619.5

835.4

353.1

594.2

777.3

937.7

279.1

441.8

576.0

707.7

803.4

218.9 223.7 200.7 273.7 233.4

334.4 333.8 366.6 396.9 377.9

417.8 458.2 451.4 500.1 493.3

516.9 525.3 527.2 577.1 585.1

566.7 573.9 580.6 632.3 671.0

600.7 609.0 616.3 687.0 729.7

627.3 634.3 654.4 722.3

646.4 660.5 677.3

665.1 676.7

677.8

596.7 617.9 630.1 724.8 864.8 1,114.6 1,461.7 1,564.3 1,674.0 1,883.8

621.6 634.3 672.3 792.1 880.8 1,094.0 1,418.1 1,545.4 1,635.1

638.0 673.9 721.8 812.2 890.1 1,096.7 1,412.5 1,510.3

674.9 717.2 741.6 826.9 903.2 1,107.2 1,400.2

711.8 724.5 752.2 836.6 924.4 1,117.7

714.0 734.8 762.1 857.9 935.0

723.8 743.2 780.4 862.7

733.6 756.8 784.7

743.7 766.8

754.7

Favourable (unfavourable) development

(151.4) (181.3) (162.8) (133.8)

(79.6)

36.2

8.5

129.9

60.9

48.0

Northbridge experienced net favourable reserve development of Cdn$48.0 in 2009 as a result of net favourable loss
reserve development of Cdn$16.0 and the favourable effect of foreign currency movements on the translation of the
U.S. dollar-denominated claims liabilities of Commonwealth and Markel of Cdn$32.0. The loss development
reflected net favourable development of non-marine energy reserves in its large account segment, U.S. third party
liability reserves in its transportation segment and across most lines and accident years in its small to medium
account segment, partially offset by adverse development of pre-2003 casualty and commercial auto liability claims
and the impact on loss reserves of an additional sales tax in certain Canadian provinces. The total foreign exchange
effect on claims reserves contributed a favourable impact of Cdn$36.6 as a result of the strengthening of the
Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar during 2009 and comprised Cdn$32.0 related to prior years and Cdn$4.6
related to the current year.

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The following table is derived from the “Northbridge’s Calendar Year Claims Reserve Development” table above. It
summarizes the effect of re-estimating prior year loss reserves by accident year.

Northbridge’s Accident Year Claims Reserve Development

As at December 31

End of first year

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

Accident year

1999 &
Prior 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
(In Cdn$)

207.7 227.7 299.5 404.2 522.4 573.1 531.6 508.1 640.8 572.4

215.2 219.6 253.3 346.4 467.2 646.8 499.2 505.1 631.7

215.2 222.1 271.0 342.3 437.2 600.5 485.9 501.3

217.9 228.4 271.3 336.9 426.9 584.4 463.2

224.3 240.9 275.4 340.3 416.2 561.6

229.4 241.2 275.2 340.2 416.1

229.8 242.6 278.3 346.0

228.6 247.3 278.6

232.0 241.7

230.9

603.3

596.7

621.6

638.0

674.9

711.8

714.0

723.9

733.6

743.7

754.7

Favourable (unfavourable) development

(25.1)% (11.2)% (6.1)% 7.0% 14.4% 20.3% 2.0% 12.9% 1.3% 1.4%

Accident years 2002 to 2008 reflect cumulative net favourable development, largely attributable to lower than
expected frequency and severity of claims in commercial automobile and property lines of business, with the
exception of accident year 2005 that was adversely impacted by new claims and net adverse claims development on
hurricane losses in calendar year 2006. Reserves for the 2000 and 2001 accident years were adversely impacted by
higher than expected severity of automobile-related claims and general liability claims. Reserves for the 1999 and
prior period were impacted by pre-1990 general liability claims.

U.S. Insurance – Crum & Forster

The following table shows for Fairfax’s U.S. insurance operations the provision for claims liability for unpaid losses
and LAE as originally and as currently estimated for the years 2005 through 2009. Beginning in 2006, U.S. insurance
consists of Crum & Forster only (the years prior to 2006 include Fairmont, the business of which was assumed by
Crum & Forster effective January 1, 2006 while the Fairmont entities were transferred to U.S. runoff). The favourable
or unfavourable development from prior years has been credited or charged to each year’s earnings.

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims – U.S. Insurance

Provision for claims and LAE at January 1

2,038.3

1,668.9

1,686.9

1,756.7

1,703.1

Transfer of Fairmont to Runoff

–

–

–

(146.2)

–

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Incurred losses on claims and LAE

Provision for current accident year’s claims

566.0

802.8

816.8

762.2

785.9

Increase (decrease) in provision for prior accident years’

claims

(25.0)

59.0

(46.6)

(48.9)

(31.3)

Total incurred losses on claims and LAE

541.0

861.8

770.2

713.3

754.6

Payments for losses on claims and LAE

Payments on current accident year’s claims

Payments on prior accident years’ claims

(157.0)

(632.9)

(228.3)(1) (217.2)
(571.0)
(264.1)

(158.0)

(171.5)

(478.9)

(529.5)

Total payments for losses on claims and LAE

(789.9)

(492.4)

(788.2)

(636.9)

(701.0)

Provision for claims and LAE at December 31

1,789.4

2,038.3

1,668.9

1,686.9

1,756.7

(1) Reduced by $302.5 of proceeds from a significant reinsurance commutation.

138

The following table shows for Crum & Forster the original provision for claims reserves including LAE at each
calendar year-end commencing in 1999, the subsequent cumulative payments made on account of these years and
the subsequent re-estimated amounts of these reserves.

Crum & Forster’s Calendar Year Claims Reserve Development (excluding Fairmont prior to 2006)

As at December 31

1999

2000 2001

2002

2003 2004

2005 2006

2007 2008

2009

Calendar year

Provision for claims including LAE

Cumulative payments as of:

2,187.5 1,736.6 1,318.2 1,238.4 1,538.2 1,578.2 1,610.6 1,686.9 1,668.9 2,038.3 1,789.4

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

757.4

667.2

1,301.8 1,012.2

1,568.4 1,083.8

447.0

525.0

812.4

161.3

514.5

460.0

792.2

466.0

796.7

780.0 1,045.1 1,066.1

478.9

848.7

804.7

571.0

629.2

904.3

632.9

264.1

649.0

1,633.9 1,311.1 1,029.8

970.2 1,257.1

959.6 1,013.8

1,855.3 1,483.6 1,185.5 1,144.6 1,111.5 1,118.3

2,023.8 1,613.9 1,337.6

960.8 1,241.7

2,151.5 1,739.9 1,137.6 1,064.1

2,276.0 1,531.6 1,232.6

2,085.4 1,617.9

2,166.9

2,263.1 1,691.0 1,337.7 1,278.6 1,508.1 1,546.9 1,561.7 1,640.3 1,727.9 2,013.3

2,269.2 1,708.3 1,411.7 1,285.9 1,536.0 1,509.2 1,525.3 1,716.5 1,692.4

2,282.0 1,754.8 1,420.7 1,308.2 1,513.3 1,499.7 1,640.4 1,700.3

2,325.1 1,765.2 1,438.6 1,296.8 1,545.5 1,616.7 1,653.0

2,348.0 1,779.1 1,437.0 1,330.0 1,674.8 1,658.2

2,361.6 1,794.1 1,469.0 1,457.2 1,719.4

2,368.4 1,816.6 1,592.4 1,472.9

2,388.5 1,945.5 1,607.5

2,513.4 1,957.5

2,530.1

Favourable (unfavourable) development

(342.6)

(220.9)

(289.3)

(234.5)

(181.2)

(80.0)

(42.4)

(13.4)

(23.5)

25.0

In 2009, Crum & Forster experienced net favourable development of $25.0, including an insurance recovery of $13.8
associated with the settlement of an asbestos lawsuit and net favourable emergence in workers’ compensation,
commercial multi-peril and property lines, partially offset by adverse emergence in commercial auto and asbestos
liabilities.

The following table is derived from the “Crum & Forster’s Calendar Year Claims Reserve Development” table above. It
summarizes the effect of re-estimating prior year loss reserves by accident year.

Crum & Forster’s Accident Year Claims Reserve Development

As at December 31

End of first year

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

Accident year

1999 &
Prior 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

2,187.5

231.0 294.4 347.7 420.9 530.1 529.7 604.2 599.6 574.5 408.9

2,263.1

179.3 296.6 313.9 383.5 470.9 518.5 594.0 582.5 585.1

2,269.2

183.7 324.1 312.2 389.1 455.9 491.6 555.1 563.0

2,282.0

187.1 322.8 316.7 377.8 414.2 489.7 526.3

2,325.1

174.6 326.7 306.8 376.8 401.9 460.8

2,348.0

174.9 310.1 308.0 378.9 398.8

2,361.6

183.2 319.6 311.8 407.8

2,368.4

185.6 314.2 312.4

2,388.5

189.5 317.2

2,513.4

184.9

2,530.1

Favourable (unfavourable) development

(15.7)% 20.0% (7.7)% 10.2% 3.1% 24.8% 13.0% 12.9% 6.1% (1.8)%

139

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Adverse development in accident year 2001 and prior accident years reflected the impact of increased frequency and
severity on casualty lines and the effects of increased competitive conditions during this period, and included
strengthening of asbestos, environmental and latent claims reserves on 1999 and prior accident years. Similar
development experienced in accident year 2000 was more than offset by the benefit of corporate aggregate
reinsurance. Accident year 1999 and prior years’ adverse development also reflected the adverse impact of the loss
on a reinsurance commutation in 2008. Accident years 2002 to 2007 experienced net favourable development,
principally attributable to workers’ compensation reserves and favourable development on general liability and
commercial multi-peril exposures experiencing decreased loss activity. Accident year 2008 experienced unfavourable
development due to higher claims emergence than expected for commercial auto liability, general liability and
workers’ compensation lines.

Asian Insurance – Fairfax Asia

The following table shows for Fairfax Asia the provision for claims liability for unpaid losses and LAE as originally and
as currently estimated for the years 2005 through 2009. The favourable or unfavourable development from prior
years has been credited or charged to each year’s earnings.

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims – Fairfax Asia

Provision for claims and LAE at January 1

Incurred losses on claims and LAE

Provision for current accident year’s claims

Foreign exchange effect on claims

Increase (decrease) in provision for prior accident years’ claims

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

113.2

91.0

87.6

74.7

54.7

92.8

2.5

(8.1)

65.5

43.1

34.7

39.6

0.1

3.4

2.2

(4.4)

2.1

2.8

(0.2)

5.1

Total incurred losses on claims and LAE

87.2

69.0

40.9

39.6

44.5

Payments for losses on claims and LAE

Payments on current accident year’s claims

Payments on prior accident years’ claims

(20.7)

(15.9)

(11.0)

(11.1)

(11.2)

(41.0)

(30.9)

(26.5)

(15.6)

(13.3)

Total payments for losses on claims and LAE

(61.7)

(46.8)

(37.5)

(26.7)

(24.5)

Provision for claims and LAE at December 31

138.7

113.2

91.0

87.6

74.7

The following table shows for Fairfax Asia the original provision for claims reserves including LAE at each calendar
year-end commencing in 1999, the subsequent cumulative payments made on account of these years and the
subsequent re-estimated amount of these reserves. The following Asian insurance subsidiaries’ reserves are included
from the respective years in which such subsidiaries were acquired:

Falcon Insurance

Winterthur (Asia) (now part of First Capital Insurance)

First Capital Insurance

Year acquired

1998

2001

2004

140

Fairfax Asia’s Calendar Year Claims Reserve Development

As at December 31

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
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
Favourable (unfavourable) development

Calendar year
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

9.2

11.0

29.6

23.1

25.1

54.7

74.7

87.6

91.0

113.2 138.7

2.3
5.3
6.3
7.0
7.1
7.2
7.2
7.2
7.2
7.2

8.9
9.1
9.3
8.3
8.0
7.5
7.4
7.2
7.2
7.2
2.0

41.0

30.9
49.8

26.5
45.2
56.3

15.6
32.6
44.6
50.3

106.0

94.9
84.7

84.5
84.1
75.0

79.6
72.2
71.8
64.7

13.3
21.9
29.1
32.6
33.8

7.9
13.1
15.9
17.3
17.9
18.2

59.6
58.2
49.9
48.3
43.5

24.9
23.1
21.2
20.0
20.0
19.2

10.1
14.1
16.5
17.8
18.2
18.5
18.7

22.4
22.2
21.3
20.5
19.6
19.8
19.6

19.0
26.1
27.9
29.1
29.5
29.7
29.8
30.0

32.8
32.3
32.2
31.5
30.8
30.2
30.4
30.4

5.7
7.9
9.7
10.8
11.6
11.6
11.7
11.7
11.7

13.4
14.1
13.6
13.3
12.8
12.3
11.9
11.9
11.9

(0.9)

(0.8)

3.5

5.9

11.2

10.0

12.6

6.3

7.2

Fairfax Asia experienced net favourable reserve development of $7.2 during 2009 as a result of net favourable loss reserve
development of $8.1 and unfavourable foreign exchange movements on translation of prior accident years’ claims reserves
denominated in foreign currencies of $0.9. The net favourable loss reserve development related primarily to workers’
compensation insurance claims at Falcon. The total unfavourable foreign exchange effect on claims reserves was $2.5,
consisting of unfavourable development of $0.9 on prior years and unfavourable movement of $1.6 on the current year.

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

The following table shows for OdysseyRe the provision for claims liability for unpaid losses and LAE as originally and
as currently estimated for the years 2005 through 2009. The favourable or unfavourable development from prior
years has been credited or charged to each year’s earnings.

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims – OdysseyRe

Provision for claims and LAE at January 1

4,560.3

4,475.6

4,403.1

3,865.4

3,132.5

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Incurred losses on claims and LAE

Provision for current accident year’s claims

1,313.3

1,518.8

1,367.9

1,344.3

1,888.9

Foreign exchange effect on claims

58.8

(143.2)

26.6

46.6

(28.1)

Increase (decrease) in provision for prior accident years’

claims

(11.3)

(10.1)

40.5

185.4

166.5

Total incurred losses on claims and LAE

1,360.8

1,365.5

1,435.0

1,576.3

2,027.3

Payments for losses on claims and LAE

Payments on current accident year’s claims

(230.6)

(264.8)

(251.4)

Payments on prior accident years’ claims

(1,024.2)

(1,016.0)

(1,111.1)

(251.3)

(787.3)

(380.7)

(913.7)

Total payments for losses on claims and LAE

(1,254.8)

(1,280.8)

(1,362.5)

(1,038.6)

(1,294.4)

Provision for claims and LAE at December 31

4,666.3

4,560.3

4,475.6

4,403.1

3,865.4

141

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The following table shows for OdysseyRe the original provision for claims reserves including LAE at each calendar
year-end commencing in 1999, the subsequent cumulative payments made on account of these years and the
subsequent re-estimated amount of these reserves.

OdysseyRe’s Calendar Year Claims Reserve Development

As at December 31

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005 2006

2007 2008

2009

Calendar year

Provision for claims including LAE

Cumulative payments as of:

1,831.5 1,666.8 1,674.4 1,844.6 2,340.9 3,132.5 3,865.4 4,403.1 4,475.6 4,560.3 4,666.3

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

608.5

596.2

1,041.3 1,009.9

616.2

985.4

601.8

632.4

913.7

787.3 1,111.1 1,016.0 1,024.2

998.8 1,212.9 1,298.5 1,614.0 1,808.2 1,646.5

1,332.8 1,276.4 1,295.5 1,423.6 1,455.7 1,835.7 2,160.9 2,273.0

1,505.5 1,553.1 1,601.6 1,562.6 1,898.4 2,221.0 2,520.9

1,718.4 1,802.2 1,665.8 1,932.4 2,206.1 2,490.5

1,901.2 1,827.3 1,968.7 2,188.1 2,426.5

1,904.4 2,061.8 2,173.5 2,373.8

2,102.7 2,224.6 2,327.9

2,248.7 2,352.3

2,362.0

1,846.2 1,689.9 1,740.4 1,961.5 2,522.1 3,299.0 4,050.8 4,443.6 4,465.5 4,549.0

1,862.2 1,768.1 1,904.2 2,201.0 2,782.1 3,537.0 4,143.5 4,481.5 4,499.0

1,931.4 1,987.9 2,155.2 2,527.7 3,049.6 3,736.1 4,221.3 4,564.3

2,113.2 2,241.1 2,468.0 2,827.3 3,293.8 3,837.5 4,320.5

2,292.2 2,535.0 2,725.8 3,076.8 3,414.1 3,950.1

2,526.7 2,750.5 2,973.6 3,202.2 3,534.4

2,702.1 2,968.9 3,079.3 3,324.8

2,893.0 3,068.6 3,193.7

2,985.4 3,181.5

3,094.0

Favourable (unfavourable) development

(1,262.5) (1,514.7) (1,519.3) (1,480.2) (1,193.5)

(817.6)

(455.1)

(161.2)

(23.4)

11.3

OdysseyRe experienced net favourable development of $11.3 in 2009, primarily attributable to lower than expected
loss emergence in the London Market ($23.3), U.S. Insurance ($35.3) and EuroAsia divisions ($22.9). This favourable
development was partially offset by greater than expected loss emergence in the Americas division ($70.1), including
strengthening of asbestos claims ($40.0).

The following table is derived from the “OdysseyRe’s Calendar Year Claims Reserve Development” table above. It
summarizes the effect of re-estimating prior year loss reserves by accident year.

OdysseyRe’s Accident Year Claims Reserve Development

As at December 31

End of first year

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

Accident Year

1999 &
Prior 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

2005 2006

2007 2008

2009

1,831.3

429.1 580.9 720.6 981.3 1,242.1 1,480.2 1,139.6 1,143.1 1,110.8 1,141.5

1,846.2

436.0 568.7 673.5 923.8 1,149.3 1,427.6 1,087.4 1,095.2 1,066.1

1,862.2

445.0 512.7 661.6 856.4 1,119.7 1,321.2 1,047.5 1,045.7

1,931.2

483.0 510.2 675.4 824.1 1,074.6 1,297.5 1,031.1

2,113.2

557.7 529.2 717.7 818.8 1,055.9 1,284.1

2,292.2

617.0 571.6 719.4 813.7 1,048.1

2,526.7

656.8 601.0 739.1 811.4

2,702.1

684.3 606.9 747.3

2,893.0

691.7 608.4

2,985.4

696.0

3,094.0

Favourable (unfavourable) development

(69.0)% (62.2)% (4.7)% (3.7)% 17.3% 15.6% 13.2%

9.5%

8.5%

4.0%

142

The increase in reserves on accident years 1999 and prior for calendar year 2009 related principally to increased
reserves for asbestos and environmental pollution liabilities. The increases in reserves on accident years 2000 through
2002 in recent calendar years related principally to casualty reinsurance written in the United States in the late 1990s
and early 2000s. These years experienced a proliferation of claims relating to bankruptcies and corporate impro-
prieties, resulting in an increase in the frequency and severity of claims in professional liability lines. Additionally,
claims experience in general liability and excess workers’ compensation classes of business in this period reflected the
effects on loss ratios and subsequent loss reserve development of increasing competition on rate and terms in those
classes of business during that time period.

Subsequent improvements in competitive conditions and in the economic environment beginning in 2001 resulted
in a general downward trend on re-estimated reserves for accident years 2003 through 2008. Initial loss estimates for
these more recent accident years did not fully anticipate the improvements in competitive and economic conditions
achieved since the early 2000s.

Reinsurance – Other (Group Re, Advent and Polish Re)

The following table shows for Reinsurance – Other (being only Group Re prior to 2008) the provision for claims
liability for unpaid losses and LAE as originally and as currently estimated for the years 2005 through 2009. The
favourable or unfavourable development from prior years has been credited or charged to each year’s earnings.

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims – Reinsurance – Other

Provision for claims and LAE at January 1

742.0

554.4

558.8

632.3

459.2

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Transfer to Runoff(1)

Incurred losses on claims and LAE

–

(97.9)

–

–

–

Provision for current accident year’s claims

371.4

132.4

168.6

201.0

325.9

Foreign exchange effect on claims

Increase (decrease) in provision for prior accident years’ claims

69.0

31.2

(86.7)

65.0

(0.4)

2.3

(28.4)

25.2

8.2

(0.9)

Total incurred losses on claims and LAE

471.6

48.0

205.2

225.8

333.2

Payments for losses on claims and LAE

Payments on current accident year’s claims

(81.5)

(42.4)

(54.4)

(73.7)

(55.6)

Payments on prior accident years’ claims

(196.4)

(93.0)

(155.2)

(225.6)

(104.5)

Total payments for losses on claims and LAE

(277.9)

(135.4)

(209.6)

(299.3)

(160.1)

Provision for claims and LAE at December 31(2)

68.4

372.9

–

–

–

Provision for claims and LAE at December 31 excluding CTR Life

1,004.1

742.0

554.4

558.8

632.3

CTR Life

27.6

34.9

21.5

24.8

29.3

Provision for claims and LAE at December 31

1,031.7

776.9

575.9

583.6

661.6

(1) Transfer to Runoff of nSpire Re’s Group Re business in 2008.
(2) Polish Re in 2009 and Advent in 2008.

143

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The following table shows for Reinsurance – Other (being only Group Re prior to 2008) the original provision for
claims reserves including LAE at each calendar year-end commencing in 1999, the subsequent cumulative payments
made on account of these years and the subsequent re-estimated amount of these reserves.

Reinsurance – Other’s Calendar Year Claims Reserve Development(1)

As at December 31

Provisions 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

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

Calendar Year
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

205.7 209.8 232.4

226.1 263.3 267.6 315.6 373.5 456.5 742.0 1,004.1

34.8

47.5

66.6

78.2 115.8

54.3

40.3

85.9

93.0 197.7

73.6 100.5 129.7

175.5 152.8

74.6 104.3 151.9 160.5

119.9 146.0 215.0

206.0 164.9 128.8 160.5 209.4

146.9 221.0 232.0

209.0 210.0 179.2 206.6

215.4 227.7 222.5

243.4 251.8 216.2

216.5 205.4 243.7

276.7 280.8

189.0 220.4 265.2

299.5

200.7 237.9 279.7

213.3 249.8

223.0

191.1 205.3 229.5

268.2 286.3 279.6 319.4 429.4 383.8 833.5

185.2 202.8 258.5

295.2 302.9 288.2 361.9 375.8 454.1

185.5 222.7 277.5

310.1 317.3 326.7 322.9 436.9

202.4 242.0 283.2

323.4 348.4 302.8 377.6

216.9 245.3 291.1

348.1 338.0 351.7

217.6 251.5 307.9

343.5 375.2

222.6 266.0 305.8

374.6

235.4 266.9 327.1

236.0 287.1

254.0

Favourable (unfavourable) development

(48.3)

(77.3)

(94.7) (148.5) (111.9)

(84.1)

(62.0)

(63.4)

2.4

(91.5)

(1) The above table has been restated to reflect the transfer of nSpire Re’s Group Re business to Runoff effective January 1, 2008.

Reinsurance – Other experienced net unfavourable reserve development of $91.5 during 2009 principally as a result
of the effect of unfavourable foreign exchange movement of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar at CRC
(Bermuda) of $60.3, unfavourable loss reserve development of $31.2 related to pre-2000 general liability and
commercial auto business at Group Re and adverse development of losses related to Hurricane Ike at Advent.
The total unfavourable foreign exchange effect on claims reserves was $69.0, consisting of $60.3 on prior years and
$8.7 on the current year.

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Runoff

The following table shows for Fairfax’s Runoff operations the provision for claims liability for unpaid losses and LAE
as originally and as currently estimated for the years 2005 through 2009. The favourable or unfavourable develop-
ment from prior years has been credited or charged to each year’s earnings.

Reconciliation of Provision for Claims – Runoff

Provision for claims and LAE at January 1

1,989.9

2,116.5

2,487.9

1,797.9

1,481.6

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Transfer to Runoff(1)

Incurred losses on claims and LAE

Provision for current accident year’s claims

Foreign exchange effect on claims

Increase in provision for prior accident years’ claims

Increase in provision – Swiss Re commutation

Total incurred losses on claims and LAE

Payments for losses on claims and LAE

Payments on current accident year’s claims

Payments on prior accident years’ claims

–

–

14.3

57.6

–

71.9

97.9

–

146.2

–

13.7

(30.5)

64.1

–

5.3

21.0

90.9

96.2

29.9

75.8

–

412.6

63.9

7.3

442.9

–

47.3

117.2

614.5

514.1

–

(2.6)
(105.1)(2) (269.2)

(4.1)

(484.5)

(31.0)

(32.8)
(37.9)(3) (205.0)(4)

Total payments for losses on claims and LAE

(105.1)

(271.8)

(488.6)

(70.7)

(236.0)

Provision for claims and LAE at December 31 before the

undernoted

1,956.7

1,989.9

2,116.5

2,487.9

1,759.7

Provision for claims and LAE at December 31 for Corifrance

–

–

–

–

38.2

Provision for claims and LAE at December 31

1,956.7

1,989.9

2,116.5

2,487.9

1,797.9

(1) Transfer to Runoff of nSpire Re’s Group Re business in 2008, and of Fairmont in 2006.
(2) Reduced by $136.2 of proceeds received from the commutation of several reinsurance treaties.
(3) Reduced by $587.4 of proceeds received from the commutation of the Swiss Re corporate adverse development cover.
(4) Reduced by $570.3 of proceeds received and proceeds due from the commutation of two significant adverse development

covers.

In 2009, Runoff experienced $57.6 of net adverse development. U.S. runoff experienced net adverse development of
$100.2 (including $36.8 of strengthening of U.S. workers’ compensation and latent reserves, $59.8 of reinsurance
recoverable balances written off, and net losses of $3.6 as a result of commutation losses of $21.1 and commutation
gains of $17.5), partially offset by $42.6 of net favourable development of reserves across most lines in European Runoff.

Asbestos, Pollution and Other Hazards

General A&E 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 and claims alleging injury, damage or
clean up costs arising from environmental pollution (collectively “A&E”) claims. The vast majority of these claims are
presented under policies written many years ago.

There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding these types of claims, which 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 most other types of claims because there is, throughout the United States, inconsistent precedent,
if any at all, to determine what, if any, coverage exists or which, if any, policy years and insurers/reinsurers may be
liable. These uncertainties are exacerbated by judicial and legislative interpretations of coverage that in some cases

145

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

have eroded the clear and express intent of the parties to the insurance contracts, and in others have expanded
theories of liability. The insurance industry as a whole is engaged in extensive litigation over these coverage and
liability issues and is thus confronted with continuing uncertainty in its efforts to quantify A&E exposures.
Conventional actuarial reserving techniques cannot be used to estimate the ultimate cost of such claims, due to
inadequate loss development patterns and inconsistent and yet-emerging legal doctrine.

In addition to asbestos and pollution, Fairfax faces exposure to other types of mass tort or health hazard claims. Such
claims include breast implants, pharmaceutical products, chemical products, lead-based pigments, noise-induced
hearing loss, tobacco, mold and welding fumes. As a result of its historical underwriting profile and its focus on excess
liability coverage for Fortune 500-type entities, Runoff faces the bulk of these potential exposures within Fairfax.
Tobacco and methyl tertiary butyl ether (“MTBE”) remain as the most significant potential health hazard claims
exposures facing Fairfax. Although still a risk, lead pigment has had some favourable litigation developments in
2009, resulting in this hazard presenting less of a risk to Fairfax.

Following is an analysis of Fairfax’s gross and net loss and ALAE reserves from A&E exposures at year-end 2009, 2008,
and 2007 and the movement in gross and net reserves for those years:

Runoff

Provision for A&E claims and ALAE at January 1

A&E losses and ALAE incurred during the year

A&E losses and ALAE paid during the year

2009

2008

2007

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

914.8

276.1

988.8

285.9

1,090.3

309.5

74.6

83.1

89.1

11.1

26.3

100.3

17.4

27.2

3.8

(7.8)

105.3

15.8

Provision for A&E claims and ALAE at December 31

906.3

354.1

914.8

276.1

988.8

285.9

Crum & Forster

Provision for A&E claims and ALAE at January 1

A&E losses and ALAE incurred during the year

A&E losses and ALAE paid during the year

Provision for A&E claims and ALAE at December 31

OdysseyRe

Provision for A&E claims and ALAE at January 1

A&E losses and ALAE incurred during the year

A&E losses and ALAE paid during the year

Provision for A&E claims and ALAE at December 31

Fairfax Total

Provision for A&E claims and ALAE at January 1

A&E losses and ALAE incurred during the year

A&E losses and ALAE paid during the year

444.6

380.7

485.5

418.6

486.3

421.7

26.5

80.0

7.0

47.7

31.9

72.8

34.6

72.5

54.9

55.7

46.5

49.6

391.1

340.0

444.6

380.7

485.5

418.6

394.8

260.4

381.2

256.9

344.6

215.7

70.3

51.4

40.6

35.4

76.4

62.8

45.1

41.6

100.1

63.5

77.5

36.3

413.7

265.6

394.8

260.4

381.2

256.9

1,754.2

917.2

1,855.5

961.4

1,921.2

946.9

171.4

136.7

134.6

97.1

158.8

116.2

214.5

94.2

235.9

141.3

224.5

101.7

Provision for A&E claims and ALAE at December 31

1,711.1

959.7

1,754.2

917.2

1,855.5

961.4

In addition to the net reserves presented in the above table, Fairfax’s runoff companies carried additional net reserves
against reinsurance recoverable balances from previously commuted reinsurance contracts and from impaired
reinsurers. At December 31, 2009, these additional net reserves amounted to $179.2 (2008 – $177.9; 2007 –
$204.2), the substantial majority of which related to commuted reinsurance balances. Net reserves presented in
the above table also do not reflect the beneficial effects on the company’s net asbestos exposure in 2009, 2008 and
2007 of $100.0 of asbestos claims ceded pursuant to an adverse development cover and, in 2007, of other asbestos
claims ceded pursuant to another adverse development cover (commuted in 2008).

As part of the overall review of its asbestos and environmental 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 losses and ALAE for
the past three years. The resulting ratio is a simple measure of the estimated number of years before the year-end loss
and ALAE reserves would be exhausted using recent payment run rates (the higher the ratio, the more years the loss

146

and ALAE reserves would be expected to cover). The following table presents the asbestos and environmental survival
ratios:

Net loss and ALAE reserves
3-year average net paid loss and ALAE
3-year survival ratio

Asbestos Claim Discussion

Runoff

Crum & Forster

OdysseyRe

354.1
18.0
19.6

340.0
56.6
6.0

265.6
37.8
7.0

As reported in the 2008 Annual Report, as a result of tort reform, both legislative and judicial, there has been a
dramatic decrease in mass asbestos plaintiff screening efforts over the past few years and a sharp decline in the
number of unimpaired plaintiffs filing claims. The majority of claims now being filed and litigated continues to relate
to mesothelioma, lung cancer or impaired asbestosis cases. This reduction in new filings has focused the litigants on
the more seriously injured plaintiffs. While initially there was a concern that such a focus would exponentially
increase the settlement value of asbestos cases involving malignancies, this has not been the case. Expense has
increased somewhat as a result of this trend, however, primarily due to the fact that the malignancy cases are often
more heavily litigated than the non-malignancy cases.

Following is an analysis of Fairfax’s gross and net loss and ALAE reserves from asbestos exposures at year-end 2009,
2008, and 2007 and the movement in gross and net reserves for those years:

2009

2008

2007

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Runoff

Provision for asbestos claims and ALAE at January 1

589.0

186.8

655.4

199.9

729.8

219.0

Asbestos losses and ALAE incurred during the year

120.3

74.6

7.1

4.0

6.2

(8.7)

Asbestos losses and ALAE paid during the year

40.9

9.9

73.5

17.1

80.6

10.4

Provision for asbestos claims and ALAE at December 31

668.4

251.5

589.0

186.8

655.4

199.9

Crum & Forster

Provision for asbestos claims and ALAE at January 1

356.4

301.8

391.5

333.6

404.4

348.2

Asbestos losses and ALAE incurred during the year

Asbestos losses and ALAE paid during the year

21.2

63.5

2.8

35.3

23.1

58.2

25.2

57.0

31.1

44.0

24.3

38.9

Provision for asbestos claims and ALAE at December 31

314.1

269.3

356.4

301.8

391.5

333.6

OdysseyRe

Provision for asbestos claims and ALAE at January 1

360.6

230.5

339.2

222.4

308.7

189.0

Asbestos losses and ALAE incurred during the year

Asbestos losses and ALAE paid during the year

69.4

43.4

40.0

28.9

73.8

52.4

41.0

32.9

85.9

55.4

63.0

29.6

Provision for asbestos claims and ALAE at December 31

386.6

241.6

360.6

230.5

339.2

222.4

Fairfax Total

Provision for asbestos claims and ALAE at January 1

1,306.0

719.1

1,386.1

755.9

1,442.9

756.2

Asbestos losses and ALAE incurred during the year

210.9

117.4

104.0

70.2

123.2

Asbestos losses and ALAE paid during the year

147.8

74.1

184.1

107.0

180.0

78.6

78.9

Provision for asbestos claims and ALAE at December 31

1,369.1

762.4

1,306.0

719.1

1,386.1

755.9

The policyholders with the most significant asbestos exposure continue to be traditional defendants who manu-
factured, distributed or installed asbestos products on a large scale. Runoff 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 over the past decade due to the rising volume of claims, the erosion of underlying
limits, and the bankruptcies of target defendants.

Crum & Forster has asbestos exposure related mostly to less prominent or “peripheral” defendants, including a mix of
manufacturers, distributors, and installers of asbestos-containing products, as well as premises owners. For the most

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

part, these insureds are defendants on a regional rather than nationwide basis. OdysseyRe has asbestos exposure
arising from reinsurance contracts entered into before 1984.

Reserves for asbestos cannot be estimated using traditional loss reserving techniques that rely on historical accident
year loss development factors. Because each insured presents different liability and coverage issues, Fairfax evaluates
its asbestos exposure on an insured-by-insured basis. Since the mid-1990’s Fairfax has utilized a sophisticated, non-
traditional actuarial methodology that draws upon company experience and supplemental databases to assess
asbestos liabilities on reported claims. The methodology utilizes a ground-up, exposure-based analysis that has
evolved into the 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 any umbrella or excess insurance that has 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; and applicable coverage defenses.

As a result of the processes, procedures, and analyses described above, the company believes that the reserves carried
for asbestos claims at December 31, 2009 are appropriate based upon known facts and current law. However, there are
a number of uncertainties surrounding the ultimate value of these claims that may result in changes in these
estimates as new information emerges. Among these are: the unpredictability inherent in litigation, including the
legal uncertainties described above, the added uncertainty brought upon by recent changes in the asbestos litigation
landscape, and possible 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.

Environmental Pollution Discussion

Environmental pollution claims represent another significant exposure for Fairfax. However, claims against Fortune
500 companies continue to decline, and while insureds with single-site exposures are still active, Fairfax has resolved
the majority of known claims from 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.

Despite the stability of recent trends, there remains great uncertainty in estimating liabilities arising from these
exposures. First, the number of hazardous materials sites subject to cleanup is unknown. Today, approximately 1,270
sites are included on the National Priorities List (NPL) of the Environmental Protection Agency. Second, the liabilities
of the insureds themselves are difficult to estimate. At any given site, the allocation of remediation costs among the
potentially responsible parties varies greatly depending upon a variety of factors. Third, different courts have been
presented with liability and coverage issues regarding pollution claims and have reached inconsistent decisions.
There is also uncertainty about claims for damages to natural resources. These claims seek compensation for the harm
caused by the loss of natural resources beyond clean up costs and fines. Natural resources are generally defined as
land, air, water, fish, wildlife, biota and other such resources. Funds recovered in these actions are generally to be used
for ecological restoration projects and replacement of the lost natural resources.

The state of New Jersey as well as various special interest groups and Native American tribes in Washington have and
continue to pursue polluters for natural resource damages. However, these claims continue to develop slowly. It
remains to be seen whether or not natural resource damages claims will develop into significant risks for Fairfax
insureds.

148

81.9

23.8

11.7

94.0

35.9

14.2

8.1

73.5

22.2

10.7

85.0

26.7

14.5

6.7

Following is an analysis of Fairfax’s gross and net loss and ALAE reserves from pollution exposures at year-end 2009,
2008, and 2007 and the movement in gross and net reserves for those years:

Runoff

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE at January 1

325.8

89.3

333.4

86.0

360.5

90.5

Pollution losses and ALAE incurred during the year

Pollution losses and ALAE paid during the year

(45.7)

14.5

42.2

1.2

19.2

26.8

13.4

10.1

(2.4)

24.7

0.9

5.4

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE at December 31

237.9

102.6

325.8

89.3

333.4

86.0

2009

2008

2007

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Crum & Forster

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE at January 1

Pollution losses and ALAE incurred during the year

Pollution losses and ALAE paid during the year

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE at December 31

OdysseyRe

88.2

78.9

94.0

85.0

5.3

16.5

77.0

4.2

12.4

70.7

8.8

14.6

88.2

9.4

15.5

78.9

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE at January 1

34.2

29.9

42.0

34.5

Pollution losses and ALAE incurred during the year

Pollution losses and ALAE paid during the year

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE at December 31

Fairfax Total

0.9

8.0

0.6

6.5

27.1

24.0

2.6

10.4

34.2

4.1

8.7

29.9

42.0

34.5

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE at January 1

448.2

198.1

469.4

205.5

478.3

190.7

Pollution losses and ALAE incurred during the year

Pollution losses and ALAE paid during the year

(39.5)

19.3

66.7

20.1

30.6

51.8

26.9

34.3

35.6

44.5

37.6

22.8

Provision for pollution claims and ALAE at December 31

342.0

197.3

448.2

198.1

469.4

205.5

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 Fairfax’s subsidiaries to establish pollution reserves is similar to that used
for asbestos liabilities: the exposure presented by each insured and the anticipated cost of resolution using
ground-up, exposure-based analysis that constitutes industry “best practice” for pollution reserving. As with asbestos
reserving, this 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 performing these individualized 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 potentially responsible parties 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.

Summary

The company believes that the A&E reserves reported at December 31, 2009 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 A&E reserves are continually
monitored by the company and reviewed extensively by independent actuaries. New reserving methodologies and
developments will continue to be evaluated as they arise in order to supplement the ongoing analysis of A&E
exposures. However, to the extent that future social, scientific, economic, legal, or legislative developments alter the
volume of claims, the liabilities of policyholders or the original intent of the policies and scope of coverage, increases
in loss reserves may emerge in future periods.

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Reinsurance Recoverables

Fairfax’s subsidiaries purchase certain reinsurance so as to reduce their liability on the insurance and reinsurance risks
that 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, generally a company must have high A.M. Best and/or
Standard & Poor’s financial strength ratings and maintain capital and surplus exceeding $500.0. 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.

Recoverable from reinsurers on the consolidated balance sheet ($3,809.1 at December 31, 2009) consists of future
recoverables on unpaid claims ($3.3 billion), reinsurance receivable on paid losses ($255.1) and unearned premiums
from reinsurers ($252.2). This $3.3 billion of future recoverables from reinsurers on unpaid claims at December 31,
2009 declined by $0.4 billion during 2009 from $3.7 billion at December 31, 2008. The decrease related primarily to
continued progress by the runoff operations (including reductions as a result of reinsurance commutations, certain of
which are described in note 7), claims payments related to 2008 U.S. hurricane and other catastrophe losses, and
reduced underwriting activity as a result of the weak economy and competitive market conditions, partially offset by
the foreign currency translation effect of the depreciation at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008 of
the U.S. dollar relative to most of the major foreign currencies in which Fairfax’s insurance and reinsurance
companies transact their business and to the acquisition of Polish Re.

The following table presents Fairfax’s top 50 reinsurance groups (ranked by gross reinsurance recoverable net of
provisions for uncollectible reinsurance) at December 31, 2009. These 50 reinsurance groups represented 80.4% of

150

Fairfax’s total reinsurance recoverable at December 31, 2009. In the following table and the accompanying tables in
this section, reinsurance recoverables are reported net of intercompany reinsurance.

Group

Swiss Re
Lloyd’s
Nationwide
Munich
HDI
Everest
SCOR
Aegon
Ace
Transatlantic
CNA
AXA
Berkshire Hathaway
Arch Capital
Travelers
Genworth
Platinum
GIC
Max Capital
Enstar/Castlewood
PartnerRe
Liberty Mutual
Cigna
Ullico
Brit
Chubb
Aspen
Met Life
Aviva
AIG
CCR
XL
Toa Re
Globale Re
Aioi
Hartford
Validus
Sompo
Manulife
Singapore Re
Allstate
White Mountains
FM Global
Tokio Marine
Symetra
Starr
Zurich
Axis
WR Berkley
Duke’s Place

Sub-total
Other reinsurers

Total reinsurance recoverable
Provision for uncollectible reinsurance

Net reinsurance recoverable

Principal reinsurers

Swiss Re America Corp.
Lloyd’s
Nationwide Mutual Ins Co.
Munich Reinsurance Co. of Canada
Hannover Rueckversicherung
Everest Reinsurance Co.
SCOR Canada Reinsurance Co.
Arc Re
Insurance Co. of North America
Transatlantic Re
CNA Ins. Companies
Colisee Re
General Reinsurance Corp.
Arch Reinsurance Co.
Travelers Indemnity Co.
Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Co.
Platinum Underwriters Reinsurance Co.
General Insurance Corp. of India
Max Bermuda Ltd.
Unionamerica Insurance
Paris Re SA
Employers Insurance of Wausau
Connecticut General Life Insurance Co.
Ullico Casualty Co.
Brit Insurance Ltd.
Federal Insurance Co.
Aspen Insurance UK Ltd
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
Aviva International Insurance Ltd.
National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh
Caisse Centrale de Reassurance
XL Reinsurance America Inc.
Toa Reinsurance Co. of America
Global Reinsurance Corp.
Aioi Insurance Co. Ltd.
Excess Insurance Co. Ltd.
Validus Reinsurance Ltd.
Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
John Hancock Life Insurance Co.
Singapore Re Corp
Allstate Insurance Co.
White Mountains Reinsurance Co. of America
Factory Mutual Insurance Co.
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co. Ltd.
Symetra Life Insurance Co.
Starr Indemnity & Liability Co.
Zurich Insurance Co.
Axis Reinsurance Co.
Berkley Insurance Co.
Seaton Insurance Co.

A.M. Best rating
(or S&P
equivalent)(1)

Gross
reinsurance
recoverable(2)

Net
recoverable(3)
reinsurance

A
A
A+
A+
A
A+
A-
(4)
A+
A
A
NR
A++
A
A+
A
A
A-
A-
NR
A
A
A
B+
A
A++
A
A+
A
A
A++
A
A
NR
A
A
A-
A+
A+
A-
A+
A-
A+
A++
A
A
A
A
A+
NR

706.7
315.8
248.5
165.4
123.7
121.8
117.8
109.2
95.5
91.3
80.1
63.5
61.4
53.6
52.7
50.1
47.1
46.4
43.1
39.5
38.9
36.0
32.9
32.7
32.3
31.2
31.0
28.1
27.7
27.5
27.2
26.2
25.0
25.0
24.5
23.6
22.6
22.1
21.8
21.0
20.3
19.3
18.5
18.4
17.6
17.3
17.2
16.8
16.2
15.3

408.1
274.8
248.4
140.7
95.9
89.1
97.9
17.5
92.7
86.6
42.8
53.1
58.0
12.7
51.8
50.1
40.1
4.5
15.1
34.3
30.8
35.3
32.8
–
27.7
30.9
28.0
28.1
27.4
27.4
21.6
22.0
23.3
22.0
17.4
22.4
17.8
20.2
18.8
4.7
20.3
17.9
18.4
16.1
17.6
17.3
7.9
16.8
15.1
15.3

3,367.4
822.8

4,190.2
381.1

3,809.1

2,535.5
623.5

3,159.0
381.1

2,777.9

(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 was held, but before specific provisions for uncollectible reinsurance.

(4) Aegon is rated A- by S&P; Arc Re is not rated.

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The following table presents the classification of the $3,809.1 gross reinsurance recoverable according to the
financial strength rating of the responsible reinsurers at December 31, 2009. Pools & associations, shown separately,
are generally government or similar insurance funds carrying limited credit risk.

Consolidated Reinsurance Recoverables

A.M. Best
rating
(or S&P
equivalent)

Gross
reinsurance
recoverable

Outstanding
balances
for which
security
is held

Net
unsecured
reinsurance
recoverable

A++

A+

A

A-

B++

B+

B or lower

Not rated

Pools & associations

124.0

871.4

1,837.4

352.8

39.6

60.7

17.6

806.0

80.7

8.4

76.1

470.3

143.5

9.9

41.3

0.3

235.7

45.7

115.6

795.3

1,367.1

209.3

29.7

19.4

17.3

570.3

35.0

4,190.2

1,031.2

3,159.0

381.1

3,809.1

381.1

2,777.9

Provision for uncollectible reinsurance

Net reinsurance recoverable

To support gross reinsurance recoverable balances, Fairfax had the benefit of letters of credit, trust funds or offsetting
balances payable totaling $1,031.2 as at December 31, 2009 as follows:

for reinsurers rated A- or better, Fairfax had security of $698.3 against outstanding reinsurance recoverable of
$3,185.6;

for reinsurers rated B++ or lower, Fairfax had security of $51.5 against outstanding reinsurance recoverable of
$117.9; and

for unrated reinsurers, Fairfax had security of $235.7 against outstanding reinsurance recoverable of $806.0.

In addition to the above security arrangements, Lloyd’s is also required to maintain funds in Canada and the United
States that are monitored by the applicable regulatory authorities.

Substantially all of the $381.1 provision for uncollectible reinsurance related to the $636.7 of net unsecured
reinsurance recoverable from reinsurers rated B++ or lower or which are unrated.

The two following tables separately break out the consolidated reinsurance recoverables for the operating companies
and for the runoff operations. As shown in those tables, approximately 33.0% of the consolidated reinsurance
recoverables related to runoff operations as at December 31, 2009 (compared to 42.2% at the end of 2008).

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Reinsurance Recoverables – Reinsurance and Insurance Operating Companies

A.M. Best
rating
(or S&P
equivalent)

Gross
reinsurance
recoverable

Outstanding
balances
for which
security
is held

Net
unsecured
reinsurance
recoverable

A++

A+

A

A-

B++

B+

B or lower

Not rated

Pools & associations

Provision for uncollectible reinsurance

Net reinsurance recoverable

Reinsurance Recoverables – Runoff Operations

95.9

456.6

1,334.2

295.2

32.0

55.9

6.1

336.4

68.8

8.3

57.7

404.6

138.2

9.2

39.0

0.3

132.2

45.7

87.6

398.9

929.6

157.0

22.8

16.9

5.8

204.2

23.1

2,681.1

835.2

1,845.9

127.7

2,553.4

127.7

1,718.2

A.M. Best
rating
(or S&P
equivalent)

Gross
reinsurance
recoverable

Outstanding
balances
for which
security
is held

Net
unsecured
reinsurance
recoverable

A++

A+

A

A-

B++

B+

B or lower

Not rated

Pools & associations

28.1

414.8

503.2

57.6

7.6

4.8

11.5

469.6

11.9

0.1

18.4

65.7

5.3

0.7

2.3

–

103.5

–

28.0

396.4

437.5

52.3

6.9

2.5

11.5

366.1

11.9

1,509.1

196.0

1,313.1

253.4

1,255.7

253.4

1,059.7

Provision for uncollectible reinsurance

Net reinsurance recoverable

Based on the results of the preceding analysis of Fairfax’s reinsurance recoverable and on the credit risk analysis
performed by the company’s reinsurance security department as described in the next paragraph, Fairfax believes
that its provision for uncollectible reinsurance provided for all likely losses arising from uncollectible reinsurance at
December 31, 2009.

The company’s reinsurance security department, with its dedicated specialized personnel and expertise in analyzing
and managing credit risk, 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; on a quarterly basis, monitoring reinsurance

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

recoverable by reinsurer and by company, in aggregate, and recommending the appropriate provision for uncol-
lectible reinsurance; and pursuing collections from, and global commutations with, reinsurers which are either
impaired or considered to be financially challenged.

The company’s insurance and reinsurance operating companies purchase reinsurance for various reasons including
risk diversification and mitigation and protection of capital. As set out in note 8 to the consolidated financial
statements, ceded reinsurance transactions had a net negative pre-tax impact in 2009 of $337.5, including the effect
of the $3.6 pre-tax loss on reinsurance contracts commuted by TIG during 2009 (2008 – $144.3; 2007 – $388.0,
including the effect of the $84.2 pre-tax loss on Crum & Forster’s commutation of an aggregate stop loss contract in
2008). Earned premiums ceded to reinsurers in 2009 increased to $814.5 compared to $713.5 in 2008 (2007 – $725.0).
Earned premiums ceded to reinsurers in 2009 reflected greater reinsurance utilization by OdysseyRe’s insurance
operations ($64.2), Crum & Forster ($30.6), Advent ($28.6) and Fairfax Asia ($24.5), partially offset by greater
retention of premiums written at Northbridge following changes to its reinsurance programme in 2008 and the
effect of the appreciation of the average 2009 U.S. dollar exchange rate relative to other currencies. Earned premiums
ceded to reinsurers in 2008 decreased as a result of greater retention of premiums written by the insurance and
reinsurance operating companies (particularly at Northbridge following changes to its reinsurance programme in
2008, partially offset by the effect of increased reinsurance utilization by the insurance operations of OdysseyRe in
2008) and the effect of a decline in gross premiums written from 2007 to 2008 related to intensifying competition and
deteriorating pricing associated with underwriting cycle softening. Commissions earned on ceded reinsurance
premiums were largely unchanged on a consolidated basis from 2008 to 2009 and from 2007 to 2008, despite the
effects of changes in increased retentions of written premiums, the declines in written premiums associated with the
softening underwriting cycle at Crum & Forster, OdysseyRe and Northbridge (excluding the effect of foreign currency
translation for Northbridge), and increased commissions earned as a result of increased earned premiums ceded to
reinsurers by Fairfax Asia’s First Capital in 2009 and 2008. Decreased claims incurred ceded to reinsurers of $391.3 in
2009 compared to $439.3 in 2008 reflected a reduction in cessions as a result of decreased current period catastrophe
losses and the effects of reinsurance commutations, partially offset by an increase in losses ceded by OdysseyRe
principally attributable to increased reinsurance utilization in the London Market division. Increased claims incurred
ceded to reinsurers of $439.3 in 2008 compared to $235.9 in 2007 included increased cessions related to current year
catastrophe events (including $134.4 related to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav), partially offset by the effect of
reinsurance commutations (including Crum & Forster’s second quarter commutation). Charges recorded for uncol-
lectible reinsurance increased in 2009 compared to 2008 principally as a result of a write-off of reinsurance
recoverable balances in U.S. Runoff. The provision for uncollectible reinsurance declined in 2008 relative to
2007, primarily reflecting effective credit risk management and improved credit experience with the company’s
reinsurers and the sale of a portion of Runoff’s reinsurance recoverable to a third party which was substantially
provided for in prior years. In the most recent three years, Fairfax has recorded net provisions for uncollectible
reinsurance and write-offs of reinsurance recoverable balances in the consolidated statement of earnings of $59.7 in
2009, $15.0 in 2008 and $46.2 in 2007.

The cash flow impact of the company’s reinsurance activities on net cash used in operating activities in 2009 included
a $514.7 reduction in amounts recoverable from reinsurers, with the decrease reflecting the effect of significant
reinsurance recoveries in 2009 of paid claims related to ceded 2008 losses from Hurricanes Ike and Gustav and other
catastrophe losses and the effects of reinsurance commutations. The cash flow impact of the company’s reinsurance
activities on net cash provided by operating activities in 2008 included a $582.5 reduction in amounts recoverable
from reinsurers, with the decrease related primarily to Crum & Forster’s reinsurance commutation, decreased
reinsurance utilization by Northbridge in 2008 following changes to its reinsurance programme, reduced under-
writing activity as a result of the insurance and operating companies’ disciplined response to the softening under-
writing cycle and increasingly competitive market conditions, and continued progress by the Runoff operations,
partially offset by the effect of increased reinsurance utilization by OdysseyRe’s insurance operations and the
consolidation of the reinsurance recoverable of Advent.

Float

Fairfax’s float is the sum of its loss reserves, including loss adjustment expense reserves, and unearned premium
reserves, less accounts receivable, reinsurance recoverables and deferred premium acquisition costs. The annual
benefit (cost) of float is calculated by dividing the underwriting profit (loss) by the average float in that year. The float

154

9.6%

4.4%
4.3%
4.3%
4.1%
3.9%
5.0%

is a non-GAAP measure. This float arises because an insurance or reinsurance business receives premiums in advance
of the payment of claims.

The following table shows the float that Fairfax’s insurance and reinsurance operations have generated and the cost
of generating that float. As the table shows, the average float from those operations increased 6.0% in 2009 to
$9.4 billion, at no cost.

Year

1986

Underwriting
profit (loss)

Average float

Benefit
(cost)
of float

Average long
term Canada
treasury bond
yield

2.5

21.6

11.6%

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Weighted average since inception
Fairfax weighted average financing differential since inception: 2.7%

(437.5)
212.6
238.9
(280.9)
7.3

7,323.9
8,212.9
8,617.7
8,917.8
9,449.1

(6.0%)
2.6%
2.8%
(3.1%)
0.1%
(2.3%)

The following table presents the breakdown of total year-end float for the most recent five years.

Year

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Canadian
Insurance

U.S.
Insurance

Asian
Insurance

Reinsurance

1,461.8
1,586.0
1,887.4
1,739.1
2,052.8

1,884.9
1,853.8
1,812.8
2,125.1
2,088.9

120.2
85.4
86.9
68.9
125.7

4,501.1
4,932.6
4,990.4
5,125.0
5,572.7

Total
Insurance
and
Reinsurance

7,968.0
8,457.8
8,777.5
9,058.1
9,840.1

Runoff

Total

788.6
2,061.0
1,770.5
1,783.8
1,733.2

8,756.6
10,518.8
10,548.0
10,841.9
11,573.3

In 2009, the Canadian float increased by 18.0% (at a cost of 3.0%) primarily due to the strengthening of the Canadian
dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. The U.S. Insurance float decreased 1.7% (at a cost of 1.5%), primarily due to a
decrease in premiums written by Crum & Forster. The Asian Insurance float increased 82.4% (at no cost), due to an
increase in premiums written at both Falcon and First Capital and the strengthening of the Singapore dollar relative
to the U.S. dollar. Reinsurance float increased 8.7% (at no cost) as a result of the acquisition of Polish Re and the
strengthening of the Canadian dollar (CRC (Bermuda)) and the euro (OdysseyRe Euro Asia division) relative to the
U.S. dollar. Excluding the portion of the overall increase due to the acquisition of Polish Re, the reinsurance float
increased 7.3% (at no cost). The Runoff float decreased 2.8% as the result of the continued progress in the reduction
of Runoff claims. In the aggregate, the total float increased by 6.7% to $11.6 billion at the end of 2009. Excluding the
portion of the overall increase due to the acquisition of Polish Re, the total float increased by 6.1% to $11.5 billion at
the end of 2009.

Insurance Environment

The property and casualty insurance and reinsurance industry’s underwriting results improved in 2009 as a result of
the absence of significant catastrophe activity, reserve releases as a result of favourable development of prior years’
reserves, and a reduction in incurred losses in the mortgage and financial guarantee segment. Offsetting this was an
increase in the 2009 accident year combined ratio (excluding catastrophe losses) due to claim costs continuing to
outpace price increases. Combined ratios in 2010 for the industry in Canada, for U.S. commercial lines insurers and
for U.S. reinsurers are expected to be approximately 102.0%, 100.3% and 95.3% respectively, according to recently
published industry composites. The insurance industry faces a difficult environment in 2010 with lower demand for
insurance due to a sluggish economy, the low interest rate environment and an expected decline in favourable
development from prior years. The above factors have stabilized pricing decreases and could result in price increases
in 2010 as insurers and reinsurers find it difficult to make a return on capital without underwriting profitability.

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Investments

The majority of interest and dividend income is earned by the insurance, reinsurance and runoff companies. Interest
and dividend income earned on holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities was $36.4
in 2009 (2008 – $28.8, 2007 – $19.3). Interest and dividend income earned in Fairfax’s first year and for the past
eleven years (the period since Fairfax’s last significant acquisition added materially to investments) is presented in the
following table.

Year

1986

1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Average
investments at
carrying value

Interest and dividend income

Pre-tax

After tax

Amount

Yield
(%)

Per share
($)

Amount

Yield
(%)

Per share
($)

46.3

3.4

7.34

0.70

1.8

3.89

0.38

532.7
10,020.3
534.0
11,291.5
436.9
10,264.3
436.1
10,377.9
331.9
11,527.5
12,955.8(1)
375.7
14,142.5(1)
466.1
15,827.0(1)
746.5
17,898.0(1)(2) 761.0
19,468.8(1)(2) 626.4
20,604.2(1)(2) 712.7

5.32
4.73
4.26
4.20
2.88
2.90
3.30
4.72
4.25
3.22
3.46

39.96
40.54
33.00
30.53
23.78
27.17
28.34
42.03
42.99
34.73
38.94

348.0
377.6
297.1
292.2
215.8
244.3
303.0
485.3
494.7
416.6
477.5

3.47
3.34
2.89
2.82
1.87
1.89
2.14
3.07
2.76
2.14
2.32

26.10
28.66
22.44
20.46
15.46
17.66
18.42
27.32
27.95
23.10
26.09

(1) Net of $57.2 (2008 – $29.4; 2007 – $1,062.8; 2006 – $783.3; 2005 – $700.3; 2004 – 539.5) of short sale and derivative

obligations of the holding company and the subsidiary companies.

(2) Effective January 1, 2007, Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles changed, requiring the company to carry
most of its investments at fair value, whereas previously these investments would have been carried at cost or amortized
cost. The company adopted these new requirements prospectively, and accordingly prior period investment balances in this
table have not been restated.

Funds withheld payable to reinsurers shown on the consolidated balance sheet ($354.9 as at December 31, 2009) rep-
resented premiums and accumulated accrued interest (at an average interest crediting rate of approximately 7% per
annum) on aggregate stop loss reinsurance treaties, principally related to Crum & Forster ($246.3) and OdysseyRe
($41.3). In 2009, $16.3 of interest expense accrued to reinsurers on funds withheld; the company’s total interest and
dividend income of $712.7 in 2009 was net of this interest expense. Claims payable under such treaties are paid first
out of the funds withheld balances.

Interest and dividend income increased in 2009 principally due to the impact of higher yielding municipal and other
tax exempt debt securities and corporate bonds purchased in the fourth quarter of 2008 and in 2009 with the
proceeds of sale of lower yielding government debt securities, as well as the inclusion of the interest and dividend
income of Polish Re. The gross portfolio yield, before deduction of interest expense on funds withheld, of $729.0 was
3.54% in 2009 compared to the 2008 gross portfolio yield of $643.8, or 3.31%. The pre-tax interest and dividend
income yield decreased to 3.46% in 2009 from 3.22% in 2008, while the after-tax yield decreased to 2.32% in 2009
from 2.14% in 2008. The decreased yields were primarily attributable to the impact of lower short term interest rates,
as three-month U.S. treasury bill yields averaged approximately 0.141% in 2009 compared to approximately 1.38% in
2008 and ten-year U.S. treasury bond yields averaged approximately 3.24% in 2009 compared to approximately
3.64% in 2008. Since 1985, pre-tax interest and dividend income per share has compounded at a rate of 19.1%
per year.

156

Investments at their year-end carrying values (including at the holding company) in Fairfax’s first year and for the
past eleven years (the period since Fairfax’s last significant acquisition added materially to investments) are presented
in the following table:

Year

1985

1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007(4)
2008(4)
2009(4)

Cash and
short term
investments

6.4

Bonds(2)

14.1

Preferred
stocks

Common
stocks(3)

Real
estate

1.0

2.5

–

Total

24.0

Per share
($)

4.80

9,165.9
1,766.9
7,825.5
1,663.0
7,357.3
1,931.3
7,390.6
2,033.2
4,705.2
6,120.8
4,075.0(1)
7,260.9
4,385.0(1)
8,127.4
5,188.9(1)
9,017.2
3,965.7(1) 11,669.1
6,343.5(1)
9,069.6
3,658.8(1) 11,550.7

92.3
46.7
79.4
160.1
142.3
135.8
15.8
16.4
19.9
50.3
357.6

1,209.0
813.6
811.7
992.1
1,510.7
1,960.9
2,324.0
2,579.2
3,339.5
4,480.0
5,697.9

55.6
50.8
49.1
20.5
12.2
28.0
17.2
18.0
6.5
6.4
8.0

915.35
12,289.7
793.81
10,399.6
712.76
10,228.8
753.90
10,596.5
901.35
12,491.2
840.80(1)
13,460.6(1)
835.11(1)
14,869.4(1)
16,819.7(1)
948.62(1)
19,000.7(1) 1,075.50(1)
19,949.8(1) 1,140.85(1)
21,273.0(1) 1,064.24(1)

(1) Net of $57.2 (2008 – $29.4; 2007 – $1,062.8; 2006 – $783.3; 2005 – 700.3; 2004 – $539.5) of short sale and derivative

obligations of the holding company and the subsidiary companies.

(2) Includes credit derivatives.

(3) Includes investments at equity and equity derivatives.

(4) Effective January 1, 2007, Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles changed, requiring the company to carry
most of its investments at fair value, whereas previously these investments would have been carried at cost or amortized
cost. The company adopted these new requirements prospectively, and accordingly prior period investment balances in this
table have not been restated.

Total investments per share decreased at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008 primarily due to the
increase in common shares effectively outstanding (19,988,870 at December 31, 2009, increased from 17,486,825 at
December 31, 2008), despite significantly increased investments as a result of net investment gains on portfolio
investments of $944.5 and the $1,149.4 improvement in the net unrealized gains on available for sale investments.
Net investment gains of $944.5 included $937.9 of net gains on bonds, $463.3 of net gains on common stocks and
equity derivatives and $26.6 of net gains on preferred stocks, partially offset by $340.0 of other than temporary
impairments recorded on common stock and bond investments, $147.2 of net losses related to credit default swaps
and other derivatives and $17.6 of net losses related to foreign currency. Since 1985, investments per share have
compounded at a rate of 25.2% per year.

Fairfax’s investment managers perform their own fundamental analysis of each proposed investment, and subse-
quent to investing, management reviews at least quarterly the carrying value of each investment whose market value
has been consistently below its carrying value for some time, to assess whether recording a provision for other than
temporary impairment is appropriate. In making this assessment, careful analysis is made comparing the intrinsic
value of the investment as initially assessed to the current assessment of intrinsic value based on current outlook and
other relevant investment considerations. Other considerations in this assessment include the length of time and
extent to which the fair value has been less than its amortized cost, the severity of the impairment, the cause of the
impairment, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the company’s intent and ability to
hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery of fair value.

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The composition of the company’s fixed income portfolio as at December 31, 2009, classified according to the higher
of each security’s respective S&P and Moody’s issuer credit ratings, is presented in the table that follows:

Issuer Credit Rating

AAA/Aaa

AA/Aa

A/A

BBB/Baa

BB/Ba

B/B

Lower than B/B and unrated

Total

Carrying value of
fixed income portfolio

5,748.9

1,695.4

1,468.5

970.8

253.5

291.9

1,039.4

%

50.1

14.8

12.8

8.5

2.2

2.5

9.1

11,468.4

100.0

At December 31, 2009, 86.2% (2008 – 93.4%) of the fixed income portfolio at carrying value was rated investment
grade, with 64.9% (2008 – 91.1%) being rated AA or better (primarily consisting of government obligations). At
December 31, 2009, holdings of fixed income securities in the ten issuers (excluding federal governments) to which
the company had the greatest exposure totaled $4,023.9, which represented approximately 18.9% of the total
investment portfolio. The exposure to the largest single issuer of corporate bonds held at December 31, 2009 was
$442.0, which represented approximately 2.1% of the total investment portfolio.

The consolidated investment portfolio included $5.5 billion in U.S. state, municipal and other tax-exempt bonds
(approximately $4.6 billion tax-exempt, $0.9 billion taxable), almost all of which were purchased during 2008 and
2009. Of the $5.4 billion held in the subsidiary investment portfolios at December 31, 2009, approximately
$3.5 billion were insured by Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corp. for the payment of interest and principal in
the event of issuer default; the company believes that this insurance significantly mitigates the credit risk associated
with these bonds.

Since 2003, the company has used credit default swap contracts referenced to various issuers in the banking,
mortgage and insurance sectors of the financial services industry as an economic hedge of risks affecting specific
financial assets (recoverables from reinsurers), exposures potentially affecting the fair value of the company’s fixed
income portfolio (principally investments in fixed income securities classified as Corporate and other and U.S. states
and municipalities in the company’s consolidated financial statements) and of broader systemic risk. These credit
default swaps have a remaining average life of 2.4 years (3.3 years at December 31, 2008) and a notional amount and
fair value of $5.9 billion and $71.6 respectively. The company’s holdings of credit default swap contracts have
declined significantly in 2009 relative to prior years, largely as a result of significant sales in 2008. In the latter part of
2008, the company revised the financial objectives of its economic hedging program by determining not to replace
its credit default swap hedge position as sales or expiries occurred based on: (i) the company’s judgment that its
exposure to formerly elevated levels of credit risk had moderated and that as a result the company had made the
determination that its historical approaches to managing credit risk apart from the use of credit default swaps were
once again satisfactory as a means of mitigating the company’s exposure to credit risk arising from its exposure to
financial assets; (ii) the significant increase in the cost of purchasing credit protection (reducing the attractiveness of
the credit default swap contract as a hedging instrument); and (iii) the fact that the company’s capital and liquidity
had benefited significantly from approximately $2.5 billion in cash proceeds of sales of credit default swaps realized
since 2007. As a result, the effects that credit default swaps as hedging instruments may be expected to have on the
company’s future financial position, liquidity and operating results may be expected to diminish significantly
relative to the effects in recent years. The company may initiate new credit default swap contracts as an effective
hedging mechanism in the future, but there can be no assurance that it will do so.

The company endeavours to limit counterparty risk through the terms of agreements negotiated with the counter-
parties to its total return swap, credit default swap and other derivative securities contracts. Pursuant to these
agreements, the company and the counterparties to these transactions are contractually required to deposit eligible
collateral in collateral accounts for either the benefit of the company or the counterparty depending on the then
current fair value or change in fair value of the derivative contracts.

158

The fair value of the collateral deposited for the benefit of the company at December 31, 2009, all of which consisted
of government securities that may be sold or repledged by the company, was $23.2. The fair value of the collateral
deposited for the benefit of the company at December 31, 2008, all of which consisted of government securities, was
$285.1, of which $107.6 was eligible to be sold or repledged by the company. The company had not exercised its right
to sell or repledge collateral at December 31, 2009.

Interest Rate Risk

Credit risk aside, the company positions its fixed income securities portfolio based on its view of future interest rates
and the yield curve, balanced by liquidity requirements, and may reposition the portfolio in response to changes in
the interest rate environment.

At December 31, 2009, the fair value of the company’s investment portfolio included approximately $11.5 billion of
fixed income securities which are subject to interest rate risk. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the
market value of these securities. As interest rates rise, market values of fixed income portfolios decline, and vice versa.
The table that follows displays the potential impact on net earnings and other comprehensive income of market
value fluctuations caused by changes in interest rates on the company’s fixed income portfolio based on parallel
200 basis point shifts in interest rates up and down, in 100 basis point increments. This analysis was performed on
each security individually. Given the current economic and interest rate environment, the company believes a
200 basis point shift to be reasonably possible.

December 31, 2009

Change in Interest Rates

200 basis point increase

100 basis point increase

No change

100 basis point decrease

200 basis point decrease

Hypothetical $ change
effect on:

Fair value of
fixed income
portfolio

Other
comprehensive
income

Net
earnings

Hypothetical
% change

9,689.3

10,535.9

11,468.4

12,434.0

13,521.5

(448.6)

(241.5)

–

268.9

585.7

(752.3)

(389.4)

–

384.1

806.0

(15.5)

(8.1)

–

8.4

17.9

Computations of the prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on numerous assumptions,
including the maintenance of the level and composition of fixed income security assets at the indicated date, 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 prospective 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 changes in
individual issuer credit spreads.

159

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Return on the Investment Portfolio

The following table presents the performance of the investment portfolio in Fairfax’s first year and for the most recent
eleven years (the period since Fairfax’s last significant acquisition added materially to investments). For the years
1986 to 2006, the calculation of total return on average investments included interest and dividends, net realized
gains (losses) and changes in net unrealized gains (losses). Since 2007, due to the prospective adoption effective
January 1, 2007 of accounting pronouncements as described in footnote 4 to the table, the calculation of total return
on average investments included interest and dividends, net investment gains (losses) recorded in net earnings, net
unrealized gains (losses) recorded in other comprehensive income and changes in net unrealized gains (losses) on
equity method investments. All of the above noted amounts are included in the calculation of total return on average
investments on a pre-tax basis.

Average
investments
at carrying
value

Interest
and
dividends

Net
realized
gains

Change in
unrealized
gains
(losses)

Net gains (losses)
recorded in:

Net
earnings

Other
comprehensive
income

Change in
unrealized
gains
(losses)
on equity method
investments

Total return
on average
investments

Year

1986

1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Cumulative from inception

46.3

3.4

0.7

(0.2)

(871.4)
584.1
194.0
263.2
142.4
165.6
73.0
(247.8)

10,020.3
532.7
11,291.5
534.0
10,264.3
436.9
10,377.9
436.1
11,527.5
331.9
12,955.8(1)
375.7
14,142.5(1)
466.1
15,827.0(1)
746.5
17,898.0(1)(4) 761.0
19,468.8(1)(4) 626.4
20,604.2(1)(4) 712.7
6,771.8

63.8
259.1
121.0
465.0
826.1
300.5(2)
385.7
789.4(3)
–
–
–

3,887.8

– 1,639.5(6)
– 2,718.6(6)
904.3(6)
–

5,262.4

–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

3.9

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
304.5
(426.7)
1,076.7

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(131.2)
278.3
(185.2)

(274.9)
1,377.2
751.9
1,164.3
1,300.4
841.8
924.8
1,288.1
2,573.8
3,196.6
2,508.5

(%)

8.4

(2.7)
12.2
7.3
11.2
11.3
6.5
6.5
8.1
14.4
16.4
12.2
9.9(5)

(1) Net of $57.2 (2008 – $29.4; 2007 – $1,062.8; 2006 – $783.3; 2005 – $700.3; 2004 – $539.5) of short sale and deriv-

ative obligations of the holding company and the subsidiary companies.

(2) Excludes the $40.1 gain on the company’s 2004 secondary offering of Northbridge and the $27.0 loss in connection with

the company’s repurchase of outstanding debt at a premium to par.

(3) Excludes the $69.7 gain on the company’s 2006 secondary offering of OdysseyRe, the $15.7 loss on the company’s
repurchase of outstanding debt at a premium to par and the $8.1 dilution loss on conversions during 2006 of the OdysseyRe
convertible senior debenture.

(4) Effective January 1, 2007, Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles changed, requiring the company to carry
most of its investments at fair value, whereas previously these investments would have been carried at cost or amortized
cost. The company adopted these new requirements prospectively, and accordingly prior period investment balances in this
table have not been restated.

(5) Simple average of the total return on average investments for each of the 24 years.

(6) Excluding a net gain in 2009 of $14.3 (2008 – net loss of $147.9; 2007 – net gain of $26.4) recognized on the company’s
underwriting activities. Net gains on investments in 2009 also excluded $25.9 of gains recognized on transactions in the
common and preferred shares of the company’s consolidated subsidiaries.

Investment gains have been an important component of Fairfax’s financial results since 1985, having contributed an
aggregate $10,208.9 (pre-tax) to shareholders’ equity since inception. The contribution has fluctuated significantly
from period to period: the amount of investment gains (losses) for any period has no predictive value and variations
in amount from period to period have no practical analytical value. From inception in 1985 to 2009, total return on
average investments has averaged 9.9%.

The company has a long term, value-oriented investment philosophy. It continues to expect fluctuations in the
global financial markets for common stocks, bonds and derivative and other securities.

160

Capital Resources and Management

The company manages its capital based on the following financial measurements and ratios:

Holding company cash, short term investments

and marketable securities, net of short sale and
derivative obligations

Holding company debt

Subsidiary debt

Other long term obligations – holding company

Total debt

Net debt

2009

2008

2007

2006(1)

2006

2005

1,242.7

1,555.0

963.4

783.6

767.4

559.0

1,236.9

869.6

1,063.2

1,181.5

1,202.6

1,365.3

903.4

173.5

910.2

187.7

915.0

192.6

974.2

197.1

981.3

197.1

933.2

244.5

2,313.8

1,967.5

2,170.8

2,352.8

2,381.0

2,543.0

1,071.1

412.5

1,207.4

1,569.2

1,613.6

1,984.0

Common shareholders’ equity

7,391.8

4,866.3

4,121.4

2,799.6

2,720.3

2,507.6

Preferred equity

Non-controlling interests

227.2

102.5

136.6

136.6

136.6

117.6

1,382.8

1,585.0

1,300.6

1,292.9

136.6

751.4

Total equity and non-controlling interests

7,736.6

6,351.6

5,843.0

4,236.8

4,149.8

3,395.6

Net debt/total equity and non-controlling interests
Net debt/net total capital(2)
Total debt/total capital(3)
Interest coverage(4)

13.8%

12.2%

23.0%

8.2x

6.5%

6.1%

23.7%

16.4x

20.7%

17.1%

27.1%

11.3x

37.0%

27.0%

35.7%

5.2x

38.9%

28.0%

36.5%

58.4%

36.9%

42.8%

5.2x

n/a

(1) Balances reflect the adjustment at January 1, 2007 upon adoption of the accounting standards described in note 2 to the

consolidated financial statements.

(2) Net total capital is calculated by the company as the sum of total shareholders’ equity, non-controlling interests and net

debt.

(3) Total capital is calculated by the company as the sum of total shareholders’ equity, non-controlling interests and total debt.
(4) Interest coverage is calculated by the company as the sum of earnings (loss) from operations before income taxes and interest

expense divided by interest expense.

Holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities at December 31, 2009 totaled $1,251.6
($1,242.7 net of $8.9 of holding company short sale and derivative obligations) compared to $1,564.2 at Decem-
ber 31, 2008 ($1,555.0 net of $9.2 of holding company short sale and derivative obligations).

Holding company debt (including other long term obligations) at December 31, 2009 increased by $353.1 to $1,410.4
from $1,057.3 at December 31, 2008, primarily reflecting the company’s third quarter public debt offering of
Cdn$400.0 principal amount of 7.50% unsecured senior notes due August 19, 2019, partially offset by debt
repurchases and the repayment of $12.8 at maturity of its 6.15% secured loan.

Subsidiary debt at December 31, 2009 decreased by $6.8 to $903.4 from $910.2 at December 31, 2008, primarily
reflecting a repayment by Ridley on its secured revolving term loan facilities.

On September 11, 2009, the company completed a public equity offering in which it issued 2,881,844 subordinate
voting shares at $347.00 per share, for net proceeds after commissions and expenses (net of tax of $6.3) of $989.3. The
net proceeds were applied to the company’s completed privatization of OdysseyRe for the cash purchase price of
$1,017.0 (as described in note 18).

At December 31, 2009 the company’s consolidated net debt/net total capital ratio increased to 12.2% from 6.1% at
December 31, 2008. The increase primarily reflected the decrease in holding company cash, short term investments
and marketable securities (discussed in Financial Condition), the increases in retained earnings and accumulated

161

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

other comprehensive income, the net increase in preferred equity as a result of the issuance of Series C preferred
shares completed on October 5, 2009 and the redemption of Series A and Series B preferred shares on December 1,
2009 (as described in note 11), the decrease in non-controlling interests (primarily resulting from the Northbridge
and OdysseyRe privatizations), and the increase in holding company debt as a result of the third quarter issuance of
unsecured senior notes. The consolidated total debt/total capital ratio decreased to 23.0% at December 31, 2009 from
23.7% at December 31, 2008. The improvement related primarily to the effects of the above-mentioned increases in
shareholders’ equity, partially offset by the decrease in non-controlling interests (primarily resulting from the
Northbridge and OdysseyRe privatizations) and the increase in holding company debt.

Cash, short term investments and marketable securities held at the holding company at December 31, 2008 of
$1,564.2, net of short sale and derivative obligations of $9.2, resulted in a net balance of holding company cash, short
term investments and marketable securities of $1,555.0 ($963.4 at December 31, 2007). At December 31, 2008 the
company’s consolidated net debt/net total capital ratio improved to 6.1% from 17.1% at December 31, 2007, and the
consolidated total debt/total capital ratio improved to 23.7% from 27.1% at December 31, 2007. The above-noted
financial leverage ratios improved primarily due to 2008 net earnings, a significant increase in holding company
cash, short term investments and marketable securities, net of short sale and derivative obligations (in the case of the
net debt/net total capital ratio), the repayment of the Cdn$125.0 of Cunningham Lindsey unsecured 7.0% Series B
debentures upon maturity, the repayment of Fairfax senior notes upon maturity, and the conversion of the
company’s 5.0% convertible senior debentures into subordinate voting shares, partially offset by 2008 other
comprehensive loss and the additional debt of $93.4 and $21.8 resulting from the consolidation of Advent and
Ridley respectively.

Primarily as a result of the company’s third quarter issuance of subordinate voting shares (net proceeds of $989.3), net
earnings of $856.8 and the effect of increased accumulated other comprehensive income (an increase of $1,000.9 in the
year, primarily reflecting a net increase in unrealized gains on available for sale securities and unrealized foreign
currency translation gains), partially offset by the company’s dividend payments on its common shares and preferred
shares during 2009, shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2009 increased by $2,650.2 to $7,619.0 from $4,968.8 at
December 31, 2008. Common shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2009 was $7,391.8 or $369.80 per basic share
(excluding the unrecorded $170.8 excess of fair value over the carrying value of investments carried at equity)
compared to $278.28 per basic share (excluding the unrecorded $356.0 excess of fair value over the carrying value of
investments carried at equity) at the end of 2008, representing an increase per basic share in 2009 of 32.9% (without
adjustment for the $8.00 per common share dividend paid in the first quarter of 2009, or 35.4% adjusted to include that
dividend). The number of basic shares increased primarily as a result of the company’s September 11, 2009 issuance of
2,881,844 subordinate voting shares at $347.00 per share, partially offset by the repurchase of 360,100 subordinate
voting shares during the year. At December 31, 2009 there were 19,988,870 common shares effectively outstanding.

Non-controlling interests decreased to $117.6 at December 31, 2009 from $1,382.4 at December 31, 2008, primarily
due to the privatization of OdysseyRe, Northbridge and Advent and due to the repurchase during the year by
OdysseyRe of its common shares prior to its privatization. Non-controlling interests at December 31, 2009 is
principally comprised of the OdysseyRe Series A and series B preferred shares ($69.1) and the non-controlling
interests of Ridley ($44.5).

The company has issued and repurchased common shares in the most recent five years as follows:

Date

2005 – issue of shares

2005 – repurchase of shares

2006 – repurchase of shares

2007 – repurchase of shares

2008 – issue of shares

2008 – repurchase of shares

2009 – issue of shares

2009 – repurchase of shares

Number of
subordinate
voting shares

Average
issue/repurchase
price per share

Net proceeds/
(repurchase cost)

1,843,318

(49,800)

(67,800)

(38,600)

886,888

(1,066,601)

2,881,844

(360,100)

162

162.75

148.59

113.57

181.35

216.83

264.39

343.29

341.29

299.8

(7.4)

(7.7)

(7.0)

192.3

(282.0)

989.3

(122.9)

Share issuances in 2005 and 2009 were pursuant to public offerings. Shares issued in 2008 related to the conversion of
the company’s 5.0% convertible senior debentures due July 15, 2023.

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 ratio of premiums to surplus (or
total shareholders’ equity). These ratios are shown for the insurance and reinsurance operating companies of Fairfax
for the most recent five years in the following table:

Insurance

Northbridge (Canada)

Crum & Forster (U.S.)
Fairmont (U.S.)(1)

Fairfax Asia

Reinsurance

OdysseyRe
Other(2)

Canadian insurance industry

U.S. insurance industry

Net premiums written to surplus
(total shareholders’ equity)

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

0.7

0.5

n/a

0.4

0.5

1.1

1.0

0.8

1.0

0.8

n/a

0.3

0.7

0.6

1.0

1.0

0.7

0.8

n/a

0.3

0.8

0.6

1.0

0.9

1.0

1.0

n/a

0.4

1.1

1.2

1.0

0.9

1.1

0.9

0.9

0.5

1.5

1.1

1.1

1.0

(1) Crum & Forster acquired the ongoing Fairmont business in 2006.

(2) Other includes Group Re and Advent (effective September 11, 2008) and Polish Re (effective January 7, 2009).

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 and reinsurance, investment and other business activities. At December 31, 2009, 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 – each subsidiary had capital and surplus in excess of 5.3 times
the authorized control level, except for TIG (2.4 times).

In Canada, property and casualty companies are regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial
Institutions on the basis of a minimum supervisory target of 150% of a minimum capital test (MCT) formula. At
December 31, 2009, Northbridge’s subsidiaries had a weighted average MCT ratio of 240% of the minimum statutory
capital required, compared to 224% at December 31, 2008, well in excess of the 150% minimum supervisory target.

In countries other than the U.S. and Canada where the company operates (the United Kingdom, France, Mexico,
Poland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ireland and other jurisdictions), the company met or exceeded the applicable
regulatory capital requirements at December 31, 2009.

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FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

The issuer credit ratings and financial strength ratings of Fairfax and its insurance and reinsurance operating
companies were as follows as at December 31, 2009:

Issuer Credit Ratings

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited

Crum & Forster Holdings Corp.

Odyssey Re Holdings Corp.

Financial Strength Ratings
Crum & Forster Holdings Corp.(1)
Odyssey Re Holdings Corp.(1)
Lombard General Insurance Company of Canada

Commonwealth Insurance Company

Markel Insurance Company of Canada

Federated Insurance Company of Canada

CRC (Bermuda) Reinsurance Limited

First Capital Insurance Limited

Falcon Insurance Company (Hong Kong) Limited

Advent Capital (Holdings) PLC

Polish Re

A.M. Best

Standard

& Poor’s Moody’s

bbb

bbb

bbb

BBB-

BBB-

BBB-

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A-

A-

A-

A-

A-

A-

–

–

–
A(2)

B++

A-
A+(2)
BBB

Ba1

Ba1

Baa3

Baa

A3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

DBRS

BBB (low)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(1) Financial strength ratings apply to the operating companies

(2) Advent’s ratings are the A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s ratings assigned to Lloyd’s

During 2009, Standard & Poor’s upgraded the financial strength ratings of the Crum & Forster operating companies
to an “A–” rating and upgraded the issuer credit rating to investment grade, a “BBB–” rating. Also, Moody’s upgraded
Fairfax and Crum & Forster to a “Ba1” rating.

Liquidity

The purpose of liquidity management is to ensure that there will be sufficient cash to meet all financial commitments
and obligations as they become due.

The company believes that cash, short term investments and marketable securities held at the holding company
provide more than adequate liquidity to meet the holding company’s known obligations in 2010. In addition to these
holding company resources, the holding company expects to continue to receive investment management and
administration fees from its insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries, investment income on its holdings of cash, short
term investments and marketable securities, and dividends from its insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries. The holding
company’s known significant obligations for 2010 consist of the potential payment of the approximately $1.3 billion
purchase price in connection with the announced offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Zenith common
stock, other than those shares already owned by the company, the $201.2 dividend on common shares ($10.00 per
share, paid in January 2010), interest and corporate overhead expenses, preferred share dividends and income tax
payments. Subsequent to the year-end, significant cash movements included payment of the company’s annual
common share dividend ($201.2) and the receipt of net proceeds of $199.8 and $183.1 (Cdn$195.3) from the issuance
of subordinate voting shares and Series E preferred shares respectively.

Holding company cash, short term investments and marketable securities at December 31, 2009 totaled $1,251.6
($1,242.7 net of $8.9 of holding company short sale and derivative obligations), compared to $1,564.2 at
December 31, 2008 ($1,555.0 net of $9.2 of holding company short sale and derivative obligations). Significant
cash movements at the Fairfax holding company level during 2009 included the receipt of $983.0 of net proceeds on
the issuance of subordinate voting shares in the third quarter, the receipt of $358.6 of net proceeds on the issuance of
unsecured senior notes in the third quarter, the receipt of $225.0 of net proceeds on the issuance of Series C preferred
shares in the fourth quarter, the receipt of $115.4 in cash dividends from subsidiaries, the payment of $1.0 billion in
respect of the company’s privatization of OdysseyRe in the fourth quarter (as described in note 18), the payment of
$374.0 (Cdn$458.4) in respect of the company’s privatization of Northbridge in the first quarter (as described in

164

note 18), the payment of $157.5 in corporate income taxes, the payment of $151.3 of common and preferred share
dividends, the payment of $143.8 to redeem Series A and B preferred shares, the $135.7 of cash used to repurchase the
company’s common shares, the investment of $66.4 to acquire a 15.0% equity interest in Alltrust in the third quarter,
the $57.0 cash consideration paid in the first quarter to acquire Polish Re, the additional investment of $49.0 in
Cunningham Lindsey Group Limited in the first quarter (in conjunction with that company’s acquisition of the
international business of GAB Robins), the investment of $39.9 during the year in the start-up insurance operations
of Fairfax Brasil, the holding company’s share of $12.3 in the third quarter privatization of Advent and the repayment
of $12.8 at maturity in the first quarter of the company’s 6.15% secured loan. The carrying values of holding company
short term investments and marketable securities vary with changes in the fair values of those securities.

Subsidiary cash and short term investments decreased by $2,263.7 to $3,244.8 at December 31, 2009 from $5,508.5 at
December 31, 2008, with the decrease primarily related to additional investments in bonds, common stocks and
other investments, cash used in operating activities including cash used for corporate income tax payments, and cash
used to complete the privatizations of Northbridge and Advent and to repurchase common stock of OdysseyRe.

Consolidated cash resources decreased by $368.8 in 2009, primarily as a result of $734.4 of cash used in investing
activities (including the privatizations of OdysseyRe, Northbridge and Advent, the acquisition of Polish Re and
investments in Alltrust and Cunningham Lindsey), $719.2 of cash used in operating activities (reflecting declining
premiums and steady or only modestly declining paid losses and fixed operating expenses at certain operating
companies), and $993.0 provided by financing activities (including issuances of common stock, senior notes and the
Series C preferred shares, partially offset by cash used to redeem the Series A and Series B preferred shares, repurchase
Fairfax common shares, and pay common and preferred share dividends). Consolidated cash resources decreased by
$586.8 in 2008, primarily as a result of $1,069.8 of net cash used in financing activities, including the payment of
common share and preferred dividends and repurchases by Fairfax, Northbridge and OdysseyRe of their common
and preferred shares, partially offset by $119.9 of cash provided by operating activities and $587.9 of cash provided by
investing activities.

Contractual Obligations

The following table provides a payment schedule of current and future obligations (holding company and subsid-
iaries) as at December 31, 2009:

Gross claims liability

3,412.7

4,240.0

2,343.0

4,751.4

14,747.1

Less than
1 year

1 - 3 years

3 - 5 years

More than
5 years

Total

Long term debt obligations – principal

Long term debt obligations – interest

Operating leases – obligations

Other long term liabilities – principal

Other long term liabilities – interest

1.8

156.8

51.7

6.1

15.0

181.0

306.3

66.9

10.8

28.3

225.2

268.0

36.3

9.5

26.7

1,774.9

647.8

79.4

147.1

44.0

2,182.9

1,378.9

234.3

173.5

114.0

3,644.1

4,833.3

2,908.7

7,444.6

18,830.7

For further detail on the maturity profile of the company’s financial liabilities, please see “Liquidity Risk” in note 19
(Financial Risk Management) to the consolidated financial statements.

Lawsuits

For a full description of this matter, please see “Lawsuits” in note 14 (Contingencies and Commitments) to the
consolidated financial statements.

Management’s Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the company’s CEO and CFO, the
company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31,
2009 as required by Canadian securities legislation. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that
the information required to be disclosed by the company in the reports it files or submits under securities legislation
is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis and that such information is accumulated and

165

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

reported to management, including the company’s CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow required disclosures to be
made in a timely fashion. Based on their evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that as of December 31, 2009,
the company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial
reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). The company’s internal control
over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures
that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions
and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of
management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on
the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstate-
ments. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may
become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or
procedures may deteriorate.

The company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as
of December 31, 2009. In making this assessment, the company’s management used the criteria set forth by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control-Integrated
Framework. The company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that, as of December 31, 2009,
the company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective based on the criteria in Internal Control –
Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

The effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 has been
audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report
which appears within this Annual Report.

Issues and Risks

The following issues and risks, among others, should be considered in evaluating the outlook of the company. For a
fuller detailing of issues and risks relating to the company, please see Risk Factors in Fairfax’s most recent Base Shelf
Prospectus and Supplements filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available on SEDAR.

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, perhaps very significantly, 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 (as was the case
with asbestos and pollution exposures) and extreme weather events. Fairfax’s gross provision for claims was
$14,747.1 at December 31, 2009. The company’s management of reserving risk is discussed in note 19 (Financial
Risk Management) to the consolidated financial statements and in the Asbestos, Pollution and Other Hazards section
of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this Annual Report.

Latent Claims

The company has established loss reserves for asbestos, environmental and other latent claims that represent its best
estimate of ultimate claims and claims adjustment expenses based upon known facts and current law. As a result of
significant issues surrounding liabilities of insurers, risks inherent in major litigation and diverging legal

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interpretations and judgments in different jurisdictions, actual liability for these types of claims could exceed the loss
reserves set by the company by an amount that could be material to its operating results and financial condition in
future periods. The company’s management of reserving risk is discussed in note 19 (Financial Risk Management) to
the consolidated financial statements and in the Asbestos, Pollution and Other Hazards section of Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this Annual Report.

Recoverable from Reinsurers

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. Recoverable from reinsurers balances may become an issue mainly due to reinsurer
solvency and credit concerns, due to the potentially long time period over which claims may be paid and the
resulting recoveries are received from the reinsurers, or due to policy disputes. Fairfax had $3,809.1 recoverable from
reinsurers (including recoverables on paid losses) as at December 31, 2009.

Although the magnitude of the company’s recoverable from reinsurers balance is significant, this is to a large extent
the result of past acquisitions of companies that had relied heavily on reinsurance and of the company’s greater
reliance on reinsurance in prior years, and is not necessarily indicative of the extent that the company has utilized
reinsurance more recently. The credit risk associated with these older reinsurance recoverable balances is addressed in
note 19 (Financial Risk Management) to the consolidated financial statements and in the Reinsurance Recoverables
section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this Annual
Report.

Cost of Reinsurance and Adequate Protection

The availability of reinsurance and the rates charged by reinsurers are subject to prevailing market conditions, both in
terms of price and available capacity, which can affect the company’s business volume and profitability. Many
reinsurance companies have begun to exclude certain coverages from the policies they offer. In the future, alleviation
of risk through reinsurance arrangements may become increasingly difficult.

The rates charged by reinsurers and the availability of reinsurance to the company’s subsidiaries will generally reflect
the recent loss experience of the company and of the industry in general. For example, the significant hurricane
losses in 2004 and 2005 caused the prices for catastrophe reinsurance protection in Florida to increase significantly in
2006. Rather than incurring increased costs of reinsurance by virtue of purchasing more reinsurance or by virtue of
these higher rates, in the following year the company elected to decrease its direct catastrophe exposure in that
region, therefore requiring the purchase of a reduced amount of catastrophe reinsurance. In 2007 reinsurance rates
stabilized while primary rates continued to decrease, increasing the cost of reinsurance for Fairfax’s operating
companies on a relative basis. Significant catastrophe losses incurred by reinsurers in 2008 have made and may
continue to make catastrophe exposed reinsurance more expensive in the future.

Catastrophe Exposure

Insurance and reinsurance companies are subject to losses from catastrophes such as earthquakes, hurricanes,
windstorms, hailstorms and terrorist attacks, which are unpredictable and can be very significant. The company’s
management of catastrophe risk is discussed in note 19 (Financial Risk Management) to the consolidated financial
statements.

Foreign Exchange

The company has assets, liabilities, revenue and costs that are subject to currency fluctuations that may expose the
company to foreign currency risk. These currency fluctuations have been and may be very significant and may affect
the statement of earnings or, through the currency translation account in accumulated other comprehensive
income, shareholders’ equity. The company’s management of foreign currency risk is discussed in note 19 (Financial
Risk Management) to the consolidated financial statements.

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Competition

The property and casualty insurance and reinsurance industry is highly competitive and will remain highly
competitive for the foreseeable future. Competition within this industry is based on price, service, commission
structure, product features, financial strength and scale, ability to pay claims, ratings, reputation and name or brand
recognition. Consolidation within the insurance industry could result in insurance and reinsurance market partic-
ipants using their market power to implement price reductions or offer better terms and conditions without adequate
compensation in the form of price increases for the assumption of additional risk. If competitive pressures compel the
company to reduce prices or match terms and conditions without receiving adequate compensation in return, the
company’s operating margins could decrease. In the future, competition for customers could become more intense
and the importance of acquiring and properly servicing each customer could become greater, causing the company to
incur greater expenses relating to customer acquisition and retention, further reducing operating margins. The
company competes with a large number of domestic and foreign insurers and reinsurers, some of which have greater
financial, marketing and management resources than the company, and there is no assurance that the company will
be able to successfully retain or attract business. The company’s management of pricing risk is discussed in note 19
(Financial Risk Management) to the consolidated financial statements.

Pricing Risk

Reserves are maintained to cover the estimated ultimate unpaid liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses with
respect to reported and unreported claims incurred as of the end of each accounting period. The company’s success is
dependent upon its ability to accurately assess the risks associated with the businesses being insured or reinsured.
Failure to accurately assess the risks assumed may lead to the setting of inappropriate premium rates and establishing
reserves that are inadequate to cover losses. This could adversely affect the company’s financial condition and net
earnings. The company’s management of pricing risk is discussed in note 19 (Financial Risk Management) to the
consolidated financial statements. The company’s management of claims reserves is discussed in note 6 (Provision for
Claims) to the consolidated financial statements and in the Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments section of the
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this Annual Report.

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. The company’s management of
the risks associated with the management of its capital within the various regulatory regimes in which it operates
(capital management) is discussed in note 19 (Financial Risk Management) to the consolidated financial statements.

Taxation

The company is subject to income taxes in Canada, the U.S. and many foreign jurisdictions where it operates, and the
company’s determination of its tax liability is subject to review by applicable domestic and foreign tax authorities.
While the company believes its tax positions to be reasonable, where the company’s interpretations differ from those
of tax authorities or the timing of realization is not as expected, the provision for income taxes may increase or
decrease in future periods to reflect actual experience.

The company has specialist tax personnel responsible for assessing the income tax consequences of planned
transactions and events and undertaking the appropriate tax planning. The company also utilizes external tax
professionals as it deems necessary. Tax legislation for each jurisdiction in which the company operates is interpreted
to determine the provision for income taxes and expected timing of the reversal of future income taxes assets and
liabilities.

Strategic

The company may periodically and opportunistically acquire other insurance and reinsurance companies or execute
other strategic initiatives developed by management. Although the company undertakes thorough due diligence
prior to the completion of an acquisition, it is possible that unanticipated factors could arise and there is no assurance
that the anticipated financial or strategic objectives following an integration effort or the implementation of a
strategic initiative will be achieved which could adversely affect the company’s earnings and financial position.

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The strategies and performance of operating companies are regularly assessed by the company’s CEO, Board of
Directors and senior management. An annual strategic planning process is conducted where key strategic initiatives
at the operating companies are determined, including the alignment of those strategies throughout the organization.

Reliance on Distribution Channels

The company transacts business with a large number of independent brokers on a non-exclusive basis. These
independent brokers also transact the business of the company’s competitors and there can be no assurance as to
their continuing commitment to distribute the company’s insurance and reinsurance products. The continued
profitability of the company depends, in part, on the marketing efforts of independent brokers and the ability of the
company to offer insurance and reinsurance products and maintain financial ratings that meet the requirements and
preferences of such brokers and their policyholders.

Because the majority of the company’s brokers are independent, there is limited ability to exercise control over them.
In the event that an independent broker exceeds its authority by binding the company on a risk which does not
comply with the company’s underwriting guidelines, the company may be at risk for that policy until the application
is received and a cancellation effected. Although to date the company has not experienced a material loss from
improper use of binding authority by its brokers, any improper use of such authority may result in losses that could
have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the company. The
company’s insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries closely manage and monitor broker relationships and regularly
audit broker compliance with the company’s established underwriting guidelines.

Cyclical Nature of the Property & Casualty Business

The financial performance of the insurance and reinsurance industry has historically tended to fluctuate in cyclical
patterns of “soft” markets, characterized generally by increased competition resulting in lower premium rates and
underwriting standards, followed by “hard” markets characterized generally by less intense price competition, strict
underwriting standards and increasing premium rates. The company’s profitability tends to follow this cyclical
market pattern, with profitability generally increasing in hard markets and decreasing in soft markets. These cyclical
fluctuations may produce underwriting results that could adversely affect the company’s earnings and financial
position.

Demand for insurance and reinsurance is influenced significantly by competition, frequency of occurrence or
severity of catastrophic events, levels of capacity, general economic conditions and other factors. Demand for
reinsurance is also influenced by underwriting results of primary insurers.

The property and casualty insurance business historically has been characterized by periods of intense price
competition due to excess underwriting capacity, as well as periods when shortages of underwriting capacity have
permitted attractive premium levels. The company continues to experience the effects of this cyclicality, which,
during down periods, could harm its financial position, profitability or cash flows.

In the reinsurance industry, the supply of reinsurance is related to prevailing premium rates and levels of surplus
capacity that, in turn, may fluctuate as a result of changes in reinsurers’ profitability. It is possible that premium rates
or other terms and conditions of trade could vary in the future, that the present level of demand will not continue
because the larger insurers created by industry consolidation may require less reinsurance or that the present level of
supply of reinsurance could increase as a result of capital provided by recent or future market entrants or by existing
reinsurers. If any of these events transpire, the company’s results of operations in its reinsurance business could be
adversely affected.

The company actively manages its operations to withstand the cyclical nature of the property & casualty business by
maintaining sound liquidity and strong capital management as discussed in note 19 (Financial Risk Management) to
the consolidated financial statements.

Regional or Geographical Limitations and Risks

The company’s international operations are regulated in various jurisdictions with respect to licensing requirements,
currency, amount and type of security deposits, amount and type of reserves, amount and type of local investment
and other matters. International operations and assets held abroad may be adversely affected by political and other

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developments in foreign countries, including possibilities of tax changes, nationalization and changes in regulatory
policy, as well as by consequences of hostilities and unrest. The risks of such occurrences and their overall effect upon
the company vary from country to country and cannot easily be predicted.

The company regularly monitors for political and other changes in each country where it operates. The decentralized
nature of the company’s operations permits quick adaptation to, or mitigation of, evolving regional risks. Further-
more, the company’s international operations are widespread and therefore not dependent on the economic stability
of one particular region.

General Economic Conditions

Impact on insurance and reinsurance business:

Factors such as changes in the level of employment, consumer spending, business investment, and government
spending, the volatility and strength of the global capital markets, and inflation all affect the business and economic
environment and, ultimately, the demand for insurance and reinsurance products, and therefore may affect the
company’s net earnings, financial position and cash flows. In an economic downturn like the current one, which is
characterized by higher unemployment, lower family income, lower corporate earnings, lower business investment
and lower consumer spending, the demand for certain insurance and reinsurance products may be adversely affected.

The company actively manages its operations to withstand periods of economic recession by maintaining sound
liquidity and strong capital management as discussed in note 19 (Financial Risk Management) to the consolidated
financial statements.

Impact on bonds, common and preferred stocks and derivative securities holdings:

General economic conditions can adversely affect the markets for interest rate-sensitive securities, including the
extent and timing of investor participation in such markets, the level and volatility of interest rates and, conse-
quently, the value of fixed income securities. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including govern-
mental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and other factors beyond
the company’s control. General economic conditions and many other factors can also adversely affect the equities
markets and, consequently, the value of the company’s equity securities. In addition, defaults by third parties who fail
to pay or perform on their obligations could reduce the company’s investment income and net gains on investment
or result in investment losses.

Risks associated with investments in derivative securities include market risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and
credit risk. The company’s use of derivatives is primarily for general protection against declines in the fair value of the
company’s financial assets and is governed by the company’s investment policies. The derivative securities may be
extremely volatile, with the result that their market value and their liquidity may vary dramatically either up or down
in short periods, and their ultimate value will therefore only be known upon their disposition. The company may not
be able to realize its investment objectives, which could reduce net earnings significantly and adversely affect the
company’s business, financial position or results of operations. The company’s management of credit risk, liquidity
risk, market risk and interest rate risk is discussed in note 19 (Financial Risk Management) to the consolidated
financial statements.

Goodwill and Intangibles

The goodwill and intangible assets on the consolidated balance sheet originated from various acquisitions made by
the company or from acquisitions made by the company’s operating subsidiaries. Continued profitability of the
acquired entity is essential for there to be no impairment in the carrying value of the goodwill. An intangible asset
may be impaired if the economic benefit to be derived from its use is unexpectedly diminished.

Management regularly reviews the current and expected profitability of the operating companies relative to plan in
assessing the continued usefulness of goodwill. The intended use, expected life, and economic benefit to be derived
from intangible assets are evaluated by the company when there are potential indicators of impairment.

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Ratings

Financial strength and credit ratings by the major North American rating agencies are important factors in estab-
lishing competitive position for insurance and reinsurance companies. Financial strength ratings measure a compa-
ny’s ability to meet its obligations to contract holders. Credit ratings measure a company’s ability to repay its
obligations and directly affect the cost and availability of unsecured financing. Ratings are subject to periodic review
at the discretion of each respective rating agency and may be revised downward or revoked at their sole discretion.
Rating agencies may also increase their scrutiny of rated companies, revise their rating standards or take other action.
The company has dedicated personnel that manage the company’s relationships with its various rating agencies.

Key Employees

The company is substantially dependent on a small number of key employees, including its Chairman and
significant shareholder, Mr. Prem Watsa, and the senior management of its operating subsidiaries. The industry
experience and reputations of these individuals are important factors in the company’s ability to attract new
business. The company’s success has been, and will continue to be, dependent on its ability to retain the services of
existing key employees and to attract and retain additional qualified personnel in the future. At the subsidiary level,
employment agreements have been negotiated with key employees. The company does not currently maintain key
employee insurance with respect to any of its employees.

Access to Capital

Fairfax strives to be soundly financed. During 2008 and the early part of 2009, the capital and credit markets
experienced extreme volatility and disruption. As a result, access to capital and credit markets was significantly
impaired for the company and for many other companies. In the current market, the company’s liquidity needs could
increase materially and rapidly for a variety of reasons, many of which are outside of its control. For example, the
company’s insurance subsidiaries may require the company to make additional investments in the event that their
regulatory capital levels decline below desired levels as a result of future impairments of investment securities or
other conditions, including changes in regulatory capital requirements. If the company requires additional capital or
liquidity but cannot obtain it at all or on reasonable terms, its business, operating results and financial condition
would be materially adversely affected. This risk is mitigated by maintaining high levels of liquid assets at the holding
company. The company’s management of liquidity risk is discussed further in note 19 (Financial Risk Management)
to the consolidated financial statements.

Information Requests or Proceedings by Government Authorities

Each of the company’s insurance and reinsurance companies is subject to insurance legislation in the jurisdiction in
which it operates, and in recent years, the insurance industry and the company have been subject to increased
scrutiny by regulators and legislators. The existence of information requests or proceedings by government author-
ities could have various adverse effects. The company’s internal and external legal counsels coordinate with
operating companies in responding to information requests.

Lawsuits

The existence of lawsuits against the company or its affiliates, directors or officers could have various adverse effects.
For a full description of the current state of such lawsuits, please see “Lawsuits” in note 14 (Contingencies and
Commitments) to the consolidated financial statements.

Operating companies manage day-to-day regulatory and legal risk primarily by implementing appropriate policies,
procedures and controls. Internal and external legal counsels also work closely with the operating companies to
identify and mitigate areas of potential regulatory and legal risk.

Technology

Third parties provide certain of the key components of the company’s business infrastructure such as voice and data
communications and network access. Given the high volume of transactions processed daily, the company is reliant
on such third party provided services to successfully deliver its products and services. Despite the contingency plans
of the company and those of its third party service providers, disruptions in internet, network access or other voice or

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data communication services could adversely affect the company’s ability to deliver products and services to
customers and to otherwise conduct business.

Operational availability, integrity and security of the company’s information, systems and infrastructure are actively
managed through threat and vulnerability assessments, strict security policies and disciplined change management
practices.

Change in Presentation of Foreign Currency Gains (Losses)

The company reclassified realized and unrealized foreign currency gains and losses in its consolidated statements of
net earnings to enhance the transparency of its financial reporting by removing distortions to underwriting results
caused by volatility in foreign currency rates and by giving recognition to the economic hedging relationship that
exists between claims liabilities and portfolio investments denominated in foreign currencies within the same
operating company. Prior year comparative figures have been reclassified to be consistent with the current year’s
presentation, resulting in the reclassification in 2008 of $161.8 of net realized and unrealized foreign currency losses
(2007 – $28.7 of net realized and unrealized gains) and $12.0 of net realized and unrealized foreign currency gains
(2007 – $2.2 of net realized and unrealized losses) from losses on claims and operating expenses respectively to net
gains on investments. The pre-tax foreign currency effect on certain line items in the company’s consolidated
financial statements for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

Net gains (losses) on investments:

Underwriting activities
Investing activities

Foreign currency gains (losses) included in pre-tax net earnings
Other comprehensive income – investing activities foreign currency gains

(losses)

2009

2008

2007

14.3
(31.9)

(147.9)
102.5

26.4
111.1

(17.6)

(45.4) 137.5

(39.3)

41.6

(45.2)

(56.9)

(3.8)

92.3

Change in Accounting Policy

On January 1, 2007, the company adopted the new accounting standards related to financial instruments issued by
the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. As a result of adopting these new standards, the company’s
financial assets and liabilities are carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets, except for receivables and
non-trading financial liabilities, which are carried at amortized cost. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on
financial assets and liabilities which are held for trading are recorded in the consolidated statements of earnings.
Unrealized gains and losses on financial assets which are classified as available for sale are recorded in other
comprehensive income until realized, at which time the cumulative gain or loss is recorded in the consolidated
statement of earnings. All derivatives are recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet.

Unrealized gains and losses on financial assets which are classified as available for sale and unrealized foreign
currency translation amounts arising from self-sustaining foreign operations are recorded in the statement of
accumulated other comprehensive income until recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings. Accumulated
other comprehensive income is a component of shareholders’ equity. For further details, refer to note 2 (Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies) to the consolidated financial statements.

International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”)

Canadian public companies will be required to prepare their financial statements in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”), for fiscal
years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. The company will report its financial results for the year ending
December 31, 2011 and its quarterly unaudited interim financial results commencing with the quarter ending
March 31, 2011 in accordance with IFRS. The company will also provide comparative data on an IFRS basis, including
an opening balance sheet as at January 1, 2010. With the adoption of IFRS, the company will no longer provide a
reconciliation of its financial results to US GAAP.

In 2008 the company established a steering committee, a project team and working groups with appropriate IFRS
training and expertise to manage the adoption and implementation of IFRS. The project team developed a

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conversion plan (described below) and provides regular updates to management, the Steering Committee and the
Audit Committee on the execution of this plan, including activities completed in the quarter, activities planned for
the following quarter and progress towards key goals. Education sessions have been, and continue to be, provided for
employees, management and the Audit Committee to increase knowledge and awareness of IFRS and its impact.

The company’s IFRS conversion plan consists of four phases: Preliminary Impact Assessment, Detailed Planning,
Execution and Post-Implementation Review. The company has completed the first two phases and continues its work
on the Execution phase, which it expects to complete by mid-2010. In working through the Detailed Planning phase,
the company reviewed current requirements under IFRS, identified a number of potential measurement differences
between IFRS and Canadian GAAP, and considered accounting policy choices along with available first-time adopter
implementation exemptions. Management has made and continues to make presentations to the company’s Audit
Committee identifying the IFRSs (both current and expected) that it believes will have the most significant impact on
the company’s consolidated financial statements. These presentations include an overview of these various IFRSs,
ongoing changes to IFRSs, alternative accounting policies available under IFRS, optional exemptions for the
application of the standards available to first-time adopters and the identification of the operating groups expected
to be impacted most significantly by the adoption of IFRS.

With a project of this scale and significance to the company’s financial reporting, it is critical that the company
continue to carefully assess the impact of any changes in requirements and processes on the adequacy of its financial
reporting systems and internal controls, including information technology and disclosure controls. A significant
amount of effort to adopt and comply with IFRS is required.

IFRS uses a conceptual framework similar to Canadian GAAP, but there are significant differences in recognition,
measurement and disclosures that need to be addressed. Throughout the project the company is monitoring
discussion papers, exposure drafts and standards released by the IASB and the International Financial Reporting
Interpretations Committee. The company assesses the impact of the proposed standards on its financial statements
and disclosure as additional information becomes available.

Management’s assessment to date has identified the following areas expected to be most affected by the transition to
IFRS based on IFRSs currently in force: the measurement of financial assets, insurance contracts, and employee
benefits.

Many IFRSs are currently undergoing modification or are yet to be issued for the first time. For example, in response
to financial reporting issues emerging from the global financial crisis, the IASB is revising or replacing existing IFRS
standards that address many of these areas. The IASB plans to replace its existing financial instruments standard in
several phases. The first phase was recently completed with the publication of IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments, which
addresses the classification and measurement of financial assets, including investment securities. The new account-
ing model eliminates the available for sale and held to maturity categories, and the need to bifurcate embedded
derivatives: it measures hybrid contracts as a whole at fair value through profit and loss (“FVTPL”). Equity instru-
ments are measured at FVTPL by default. An option is available to measure equities that are not held for trading at fair
value through other comprehensive income (“FVTOCI”) without recycling of gains and losses to the income
statement. Dividend income on equity instruments measured at FVTOCI would be recognized in the income
statement. Fixed income investments are measured at amortized cost if both of the following criteria are met: 1) the
asset is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets in order to collect contractual cash flows; and
2) the contractual terms of the financial asset give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of
principal and interest on the principal outstanding. While this new standard is not mandatory until January 1, 2013,
the company is considering early adoption in an attempt to simplify its accounting for financial instruments and to
streamline its conversion process.

The second phase of the IASB’s financial instruments revision will amend the recognition and measurement
requirements for impairment of financial instruments recorded at amortized cost. The IASB issued an Exposure
Draft – Financial Instruments: Amortized Cost and Impairment on November 5, 2009. If this standard is finalized as
currently drafted, only financial assets measured at amortized cost would be tested for impairment, using an expected
credit loss model. Currently, an incurred credit loss model is applied to determine impairment. The final standard is
expected to be issued in the fourth quarter of 2010 with mandatory adoption no earlier than January 1, 2013.

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The third phase of the IASB’s financial instruments revision will address hedge accounting. The IASB is scheduled to
issue an exposure draft on this topic in the first quarter of 2010, with the final standard expected to be issued in the
second half of 2010.

Another area where the company anticipates that the adoption of IFRS will have a significant impact is accounting for
insurance contracts. The company is limited in its ability to estimate the impact that this standard will have on its
financial reporting, and potentially, its business activities, until a conclusion on the measurement model used for
insurance contracts is reached by the IASB. The Exposure Draft – IFRS 4 – Insurance Contracts Phase II is expected to
be issued in May 2010 and the final standard is expected to be issued in June 2011.

Lastly, the IASB (along with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in the U.S.) is developing a new
accounting standard for employee benefits with the intent of improving accounting for defined benefit pension costs
and obligations. The current IFRS is similar to both Canadian and US GAAP and allows the use of the corridor method
to determine pension expense for defined benefit pension plans. This approach allows for the deferral and amor-
tization of certain actuarial gains and losses to future accounting periods when determining pension expense (the
“corridor method”). Both the IASB and FASB have agreed that the corridor method should be eliminated but have not
concluded whether these actuarial gains and losses should be recognized in the period in which they occur directly in
other comprehensive income or net earnings. The IASB is scheduled to issue an exposure draft on this topic in the first
quarter of 2010 with the final standard expected to be issued in the first half of 2011.

As a result of the changes described above and anticipated changes to IFRS both prior and subsequent to the
company’s transition date, combined with changing market conditions, the financial impacts of the adoption of IFRS
by the company cannot be reasonably quantified at this time. The company continues to monitor the impact of IFRS
on its business activities and based on current IFRSs, no significant impact is anticipated.

The company has evaluated its financial information systems and processes and the financial reporting impact of the
issues identified in the Preliminary Impact Assessment and Detailed Planning phases. Based on IFRSs currently in
force, management has concluded that the company’s internal controls over financial reporting, disclosure controls
and procedures, and underlying financial information systems and processes are appropriately designed and properly
functioning for an IFRS reporting environment. It is conceivable that new requirements may arise that could
necessitate significant revision to the company’s internal controls over financial reporting, disclosure controls and
procedures, and financial information systems and processes as a result of the recently proposed changes for the
determination of impairment of financial assets carried at amortized cost and the yet to be defined requirements
expected in Exposure Draft – IFRS 4 – Insurance Contracts Phase II. Management continues to concurrently monitor
changes to IFRS and the ability of the company’s controls, systems and processes to meet these potential
requirements.

The company continues through the Execution phase of its conversion plan, building on the detailed analysis and
evaluation of the financial information systems and the financial reporting impact of the issues identified in the
Preliminary Impact Assessment and Detailed Planning phases. The company expects to have a draft of its IFRS
transition balance sheet by mid-2010, and will commence preparation of preliminary quarterly financial informa-
tion for 2010 on an IFRS basis in May 2010. At this time the company’s auditors are in the process of reviewing the
company’s analysis and documentation of identified measurement differences between Canadian GAAP and IFRS.
Management believes that the company continues to track well with its IFRS conversion plan as approved by the
Audit Committee.

Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments

In the preparation of the company’s consolidated financial statements, management has made a number of estimates
and judgments, the more critical of which are discussed below.

Provision for Claims

Provisions for claims are valued based on Canadian accepted actuarial practice, which are designed to ensure the
company establishes an appropriate reserve on the balance sheet to cover 1) insured losses with respect to reported
and unreported claims incurred as of the end of each accounting period and 2) claims expenses. Under Canadian
GAAP, the assumptions underlying the valuation of provisions for claims are required to be reviewed and updated on
an ongoing basis to reflect recent and emerging trends in experience and changes in risk profile of the business.

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Provisions for claims are carried on an undiscounted basis. Worker’ compensation claims that are determined to be
fixed or determinable are carried at discounted amounts.

For the company’s reinsurance subsidiaries, provisions for claims are established based on reports and individual case
estimates provided by the ceding companies. For operating companies that write direct insurance, provisions for
claims are based on the case method as they are reported. Case estimates are reviewed on a regular basis and are
updated as new information is received. An additional provision over and above those provisions established under
the case method is established for claims incurred but not yet reported, potential future development on known
claims and closed claims that may reopen (IBNR reserves). The company’s actuaries establish the IBNR reserves based
on estimates derived from reasonable assumptions and appropriate actuarial methods. Typically, actuarial methods
use historical experience to project the future; therefore, the actuary must use judgment and take into consideration
potential changes, such as changes in the underlying book of business, in law and in cost factors.

In order to ensure that the estimated consolidated provision for claims included in the company’s financial
statements is adequate, the provisions 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 Risk Officer at Fairfax, and one or more
independent actuaries, including an independent actuary whose report appears in each Annual Report.

Estimates of loss reserves take into account the company’s assumptions with respect to many factors that will affect
ultimate loss costs but are not yet known. The process by which actual carried reserves are determined considers
actuarial estimates and many other factors. Such factors, both internal and external, which contribute to the
variability and unpredictability of loss costs, include trends relating to jury awards, social inflation, medical inflation,
worldwide economic conditions, tort reforms, court interpretations of coverage, the regulatory environment,
underlying policy pricing, terms and conditions and claims handling, among others. In addition, information
gathered through underwriting and claims audits is also considered. To the extent that these assumptions underlying
the loss reserve estimates are significantly incorrect, ultimate losses may be materially different from the estimates
included in the consolidated financial statements and may materially and adversely affect results of operations and
financial condition. The impact of those differences is reflected in the period they become known.

The reserving process is inherently difficult and subjective, especially in view of changes in the legal and tort
environment which impact the development of loss reserves, and therefore quantitative techniques frequently have
to be supplemented by subjective considerations and managerial judgment. In addition, trends that have affected
development of liabilities in the past may not necessarily occur or affect development to the same degree in the
future.

Generally, for each line of business, significant actuarial judgments are made with respect to the following factors
used in the loss reserve setting process:

(cid:129) Loss trend factors are used to establish expected loss ratios for subsequent accident years based on the projected loss
ratios for prior accident years. Provisions for inflation and social inflation (e.g., awards by judges and juries which
progressively increase in size at a rate exceeding that of general inflation) and trends in court interpretations of
coverage are among the factors which must be considered.

(cid:129) Expected loss ratios for the latest accident years generally reflect the expected loss ratios from prior accident years

adjusted for the loss trend, as well as the impact of rate level changes and other quantifiable factors.

(cid:129) Loss development factors are used to arrive at the ultimate amount of losses incurred for each accident year based
on reported loss information. These factors, which are initially calculated based on historical loss development
patterns (i.e., the emergence of reported losses over time relative to the ultimate losses to be paid), are then adjusted
for current trends.

During the loss settlement period, which can be many years in duration, additional facts regarding individual claims
and trends usually become known. As these facts and trends emerge, it usually becomes necessary to refine and adjust
the loss reserves upward or downward and even then the ultimate net liability may be materially different from the
revised estimates. There is potential for significant variation in the development of loss reserves when actual costs
differ from the costs implied by the use of the assumptions employed in the reserve setting process. Among the most
critical assumptions are those made for expected loss ratios and loss development factors.

175

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Provision for Uncollectible Reinsurance Recoverables

Fairfax establishes provisions for uncollectible reinsurance recoverables on a centralized basis, which are based on a
detailed review of the credit risk of each underlying reinsurer. Considerations involved in establishing these provisions
include the balance sheet strength of the reinsurer, its liquidity (or ability to pay), its desire to pay (based on prior
history), financial strength ratings as determined by external rating agencies and specific disputed amounts based on
contract interpretations which occur from time to time. The company monitors these provisions and reassesses them
on a quarterly basis, or more frequently if necessary, updating them as new information becomes available.

Provision for Other than Temporary Impairment in the Value of Investments

Fairfax reviews those investments that are carried at cost or amortized cost, those that are carried at equity, and those
that are classified as available for sale on a quarterly basis and focuses its attention on investments for which the fair
value has been below cost for six months and on investments that have experienced sharp declines in the market based
on critical events, even if those investments have been below cost for less than a six month period. In considering
whether or not an impairment is other than temporary, the company assesses the underlying intrinsic value of the
investment as of the review date as compared to the date of the original investment and considers the impact of any
changes in the underlying fundamentals of the investment. The company also considers the issuer’s financial strength
and health, the company’s ability and intent to hold the security to maturity for fixed income investments, the issuer’s
performance as compared to its competitors, industry averages, views published by third party research analysts, and
the company’s expectations for recovery in value in a reasonable time frame. Provisions for other than temporary
impairment in the value of investments are reviewed on a regular basis and, if appropriate, are increased if additional
negative information becomes available. Any such provisions are only released on the sale of the security.

Valuation Allowance for Recovery of Future Income Taxes

In determining the need for a valuation allowance for the recovery of future income taxes (which is based on
management’s best estimate), management considers primarily current and expected profitability of the companies
and their ability to utilize the losses fully within the next few years. Fairfax reviews the recoverability of its future
income taxes asset and the valuation allowance on a quarterly basis, taking into consideration the underlying
operation’s performance as compared to plan, the outlook for the business going forward, the impact of enacted and
proposed changes to tax law and the expiry date of the tax losses.

Assessment of Goodwill for Potential Impairment

Goodwill is subject to impairment tests annually or when significant changes in operating expectations occur. Man-
agement estimates the fair value of each of the company’s reporting units using discounted expected future cash flows,
which requires the making of a number of estimates, including estimates about future revenue, net earnings, corporate
overhead costs, capital expenditures, cost of capital, and the growth rate of the various operations. The discounted cash
flows supporting the goodwill in the reporting unit are compared to its book value. If the discounted cash flows supporting
the goodwill in the reporting unit are less than its book value, a goodwill impairment loss is recognized equal to the excess
of the book value of the goodwill over the fair value of the goodwill. Given the variability of the future-oriented financial
information, a sensitivity analysis of the goodwill impairment test is performed by varying the discount and growth rates
to enable management to conclude whether or not the goodwill balance has been impaired.

Compliance with Corporate Governance Rules

Fairfax is a Canadian reporting issuer with securities listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trading in Canadian
dollars under the symbol FFH and in U.S. dollars under the symbol FFH.U. It has in place corporate governance
practices that comply with all applicable rules and substantially comply with all applicable guidelines and policies of
the Canadian Securities Administrators and the practices set out therein.

The Board has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines (which include a written mandate of the Board),
established an Audit Committee, a Governance and Nominating Committee and a Compensation Committee, approved
written charters for all of its committees, approved a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all directors, officers
and employees of the company and established, in conjunction with the Audit Committee, a Whistleblower Policy. The
company continues to monitor developments in the area of corporate governance as well as its own procedures.

176

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the “safe
harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe”,
“anticipate”, “project”, “expect”, “intend”, “will likely result”, “will seek to”, or “will continue” and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements which relate to, among other things, the company’s plans and
objectives for future operations and reflect the company’s current views with respect to future results, performance
and achievements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Fairfax to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Such factors include, but are not limited to: a reduction in net earnings if the reserves of the company’s subsidiaries
(including reserves for asbestos, environmental and other latent claims) are insufficient; underwriting losses on the
risks these subsidiaries insure that are higher or lower than expected; the lowering or loss of one of these subsidiaries’
financial strength or claims paying ability ratings; an inability to realize the company’s investment objectives;
exposure to credit risk in the event the company’s subsidiaries’ reinsurers or insureds fail to make payments; a
decrease in the level of demand for these subsidiaries’ products, or increased competition; an inability to obtain
reinsurance coverage at reasonable prices or on terms that adequately protect these subsidiaries; an inability to obtain
required levels of capital; an inability to access cash of the company’s subsidiaries; risks associated with requests for
information from regulatory bodies; risks associated with current government investigations of, and class action
litigation related to, insurance industry practice or any other conduct; the passage of new legislation; and the failure
to realize future income taxes assets. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in this Annual Report under the
heading Issues and Risks and in Fairfax’s most recent Base Shelf Prospectus and Supplements (under “Risk Factors”)
filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available on SEDAR. Fairfax disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law.

Quarterly Data (unaudited)

Years ended December 31

2009

Revenue

Net earnings (loss)

Net earnings (loss) per share

Net earnings (loss) per diluted share

2008

Revenue

Net earnings

Net earnings per share

Net earnings per diluted share

2007

Revenue

Net earnings

Net earnings per share

Net earnings per diluted share

First
Quarter

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

Fourth
Quarter

Full
Year

1,279.4

1,735.5

2,213.4

1,407.3

6,635.6

(60.4)

275.4

562.4

$ (3.55)

$ 15.65

$ 31.04

$ (3.55)

$ 15.56

$ 30.88

79.4

1.66

1.65

856.8

$ 43.99

$ 43.75

$

$

2,370.5

1,243.5

2,162.9

2,048.7

631.8

$ 34.72

$ 33.78

27.6

0.84

0.84

$

$

467.6

346.8

$ 25.40

$ 19.73

$ 80.38

$ 25.27

$ 19.62

$ 79.53

1,538.7

1,691.1

1,879.6

2,400.8

110.9

6.10

5.88

$

$

168.1

9.32

8.92

$

$

253.2

563.6

$ 14.12

$ 31.71

$ 61.20

$ 13.47

$ 30.15

$ 58.38

7,825.6

1,473.8

7,510.2

1,095.8

Operating results at the company’s insurance and reinsurance operations were improving as a result of company
efforts, although they have recently been affected by an increasingly difficult competitive environment. Individual
quarterly results have been (and may in the future be) affected by losses from significant natural or other catastro-
phes, by reserve strengthenings and by settlements or commutations, the occurrence of which are not predictable,
and have been (and are expected to continue to be) significantly impacted by net gains or losses on investments

177

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

(including significant gains related to credit default swaps in the fourth quarter of 2008 and during 2009, and related
to equity total return swaps in the third and fourth quarters of 2009), the timing of which are not predictable.

Stock Prices and Share Information

As at March 5, 2010 Fairfax had 19,798,165 subordinate voting shares and 1,548,000 multiple voting shares
outstanding (an aggregate of 20,546,935 shares effectively outstanding after an intercompany holding). Each
subordinate voting share carries one vote per share at all meetings of shareholders except for separate meetings
of holders of another class of shares. Each multiple voting share carries ten votes per share at all meetings of
shareholders except in certain circumstances (which have not occurred) and except for separate meetings of holders
of another class of shares. The multiple voting shares are not publicly traded.

The table that follows presents the Toronto Stock Exchange high, low and closing Canadian dollar prices of
subordinate voting shares of Fairfax for each quarter of 2009, 2008 and 2007.

2009

High

Low

Close

2008

High

Low

Close

2007

High

Low

Close

First
Quarter

404.00

272.38

326.00

342.20

255.32

298.90

276.00

200.00

260.00

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

(Cdn$)

329.99

275.95

292.00

340.00

240.01

261.00

270.48

203.50

203.50

416.40

281.79

397.73

350.00

221.94

341.14

262.54

195.25

242.52

Fourth
Quarter

417.35

364.00

410.00

390.00

303.85

390.00

311.87

222.16

287.00

The table that follows presents the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange high, low and closing
U.S. dollar prices of subordinate voting shares of Fairfax for each quarter of 2009, 2008 and 2007.

2009

High

Low

Close

2008

High

Low

Close

2007

High

Low

Close

First
Quarter

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

(US$)

Fourth
Quarter(1)

328.76

211.01

260.50

343.00

258.23

287.10

238.75

169.41

224.58

280.49

237.16

249.49

336.00

235.70

253.90

234.42

191.67

191.67

382.38

241.50

370.73

330.00

210.50

328.50

260.57

180.00

244.00

393.00

343.00

393.00

355.48

241.71

313.41

310.34

228.64

286.13

(1) Effective November 24, 2009, Fairfax’s subordinate voting shares are traded in both Canadian and U.S. dollars in the
Toronto Stock Exchange. On December 10, 2009, Fairfax’s subordinate voting shares were voluntarily delisted from the
New York Stock Exchange.

178

APPENDIX A
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

OBJECTIVES:

1) We expect to compound our book value per share over the long term by 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!

179

FA I R FA X F I N A N C I A L H O L DI N G S L I MI T E D

Consolidated Financial Summary

(in US$ millions except share and per share data and as otherwise indicated)(1)

Per Share

Increase
(decrease)
in book value
per share

Common
share-
holders’
equity

Net
earnings

diluted Revenue

Earnings
before
income
taxes

Net
earnings

Total
assets(2)

Invest-
ments

Net
debt(3)

Common
share-
holders’
equity

Shares
outstanding

Closing
share
price(4)

–

As at and for the years ended December 31:
(1.35)
1985
0.98
1986
1.72
1987
1.63
1988
1.87
1989
2.42
1990
3.34
1991
1.44
1992
4.19
1993
3.41
1994
7.15
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

1.52
4.25
179.6%
6.30
48.2%
31.1%
8.26
27.1% 10.50
41.3% 14.84
23.9% 18.38
0.9% 18.55
42.3% 26.39
17.7% 31.06
25.2% 38.89
62.8% 63.31
36.3% 86.28
30.4% 112.49
38.3% 155.55
(4.8%) 148.14
(21.0%) 117.03
7.0% 125.25
30.7% 163.70
(0.6%) 162.76
(15.5%) 137.50
9.2% 150.16
53.2% 230.01
21.0% 278.28
32.9% 369.80

(0.6)
6.6
14.0
17.9
16.6
19.8
28.3
5.8
36.2
33.7
70.1
137.4
218.0
358.9
(72.2)
(66.7)
(695.1)
294.7
537.1
287.6
(466.5)
878.6

30.4
(0.6)
93.4
4.7
139.8
12.3
200.6
12.1
209.5
14.4
461.9
18.2
447.0
19.6
464.6
8.3
906.6
25.8
1,549.3
27.9
2,104.8
63.9
4,216.0
110.6
152.1
7,148.9
280.3 13,640.1

23.9
–
12.2
68.8
3.7
38.9
93.5
4.9
86.9
111.7
27.3
112.0
113.1
21.9
108.6
289.3
83.3
167.0
295.3
58.0
217.4
311.7
69.4
237.0
641.1
118.7
266.7
1,105.9
166.3
464.8
1,221.9
175.7
837.0
2,520.4
281.6
11.26 1,082.3
4,054.1
369.7
14.12 1,507.7
7,867.8
830.0
23.60 2,469.0
42.6 22,229.3 12,289.7
1,248.5
3.20 3,905.9
75.5 21,667.8 10,399.6
1,251.5
5.04 4,157.2
(406.5) 22,183.8 10,228.8
1,194.1
(31.93) 3,953.2
252.8 22,173.2 10,596.5
1,602.8
17.49 5,104.7
288.6 24,877.1 12,491.2
1,961.1
19.51 5,731.2
53.1 26,271.2 13,460.6(6) 1,965.9
3.11 5,829.7
(446.6) 27,542.0 14,869.4(6) 1,984.0
(27.75) 5,900.5
227.5 26,576.5 16,819.7(6) 1,613.6
11.92 6,803.7
58.38 7,510.2(7) 2,160.4 1,095.8 27,941.8 19,000.7(6)(8)1,207.4
79.53 7,825.6(7) 2,444.3 1,473.8 27,305.4 19,949.8(6)(8) 412.5
856.8 28,402.8 21,273.0(6)(8)1,071.1
43.75 6,635.6(7) 1,205.6

7.6
29.7
46.0
60.3
76.7
81.6
101.1
113.1
211.1
279.6
346.1
664.7
960.5
1,364.8
2,088.5
1,940.8
1,679.5
1,760.4
2,264.6
2,605.7
2,448.2
2,662.4
4,063.5
4,866.3
7,391.8

5.0
7.0
7.3
7.3
7.3
5.5
5.5
6.1
8.0
9.0
8.9

3.25(5)
12.75
12.37
15.00
18.75
11.00
21.25
25.00
61.25
67.00
98.00
10.5 290.00
11.1 320.00
12.1 540.00
13.4 245.50
13.1 228.50
14.4 164.00
14.1 121.11
13.8 226.11
16.0 202.24
17.8 168.00
17.7 231.67
17.7 287.00
17.5 390.00
20.0 410.00

(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, short term investments and marketable securities, and of short sale and derivative

obligations, in the holding company).

(4) Quoted in Canadian dollars.

(5) When current management took over in September 1985.

(6) Net of $57.2 in 2009 (2008 – $29.4; 2007 – $1,062.8; 2006 – $783.3; 2005 – $700.3; 2004 – $539.5) of short sale and

derivative obligations.

(7) Effective January 1, 2009, the company reclassified realized and unrealized foreign currency gains and losses in its
consolidated statements of earnings to enhance the transparency of its financial reporting by removing distortions to
underwriting results caused by volatility in foreign currency rates and by giving recognition to the economic hedging
relationship which exists between claims liabilities and portfolio investments denominated in foreign currencies within
the same operating company. Revenue in 2008 and 2007 has been revised to be consistent with this reclassification.

(8) Effective January 1, 2007, Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles changed, requiring the company to carry most
of its investments at fair value, whereas previously these investments would have been carried at cost or amortized cost. The
company adopted these new requirements prospectively, and accordingly prior period investment balances in this table have
not been restated.

180

Directors of the Company
Anthony F. Griffiths
Corporate Director

Robert J. Gunn
Corporate Director

Alan D. Horn
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Rogers Telecommunications Limited

David L. Johnston
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Waterloo

Timothy R. Price (as of April 2010)
Chairman, Brookfield Funds,
Brookfield Asset Management Inc.

Brandon W. Sweitzer
Senior Fellow, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

V. Prem Watsa
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company

Operating Management

Canadian Insurance – Northbridge

Mark J. Ram, President
Northbridge Financial Corporation

U.S. Insurance – Crum & Forster

Douglas M. Libby, President
Crum & Forster Holdings Corp.

Asian Insurance – Fairfax Asia

Ramaswamy Athappan, Chairman and CEO
Fairfax Asia
Chief Executive Officer
First Capital Insurance Limited

Sammy Y. Chan, President
Fairfax Asia

Gobinath Athappan, President
Falcon Insurance Company (Hong Kong) Limited

Other Insurance

Jacques Bergman, President
Fairfax Brasil

Reinsurance – OdysseyRe

Andrew A. Barnard, President and CEO
Odyssey Re Holdings Corp.

Brian D. Young, Executive Vice President and COO
Odyssey Re Holdings Corp.

Other Reinsurance

Keith Thompson, President
Advent Capital (Holdings) PLC

Trevor Ambridge, Managing Director
Advent Capital (Holdings) PLC

Marek Czerski, President
Polish Re

Runoff

Nicholas C. Bentley, President
RiverStone Group LLC

Other

Roger Lace, President
Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd.

Ray Roy, President
MFXchange Holdings Inc.

181

Officers of the Company

David Bonham
Vice President, Financial Reporting

John Cassil
Vice President, Taxation

Peter Clarke
Vice President and Chief Risk Officer

Jean Cloutier
Vice President, International

Hank Edmiston
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs

Bradley Martin
Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and
Corporate Secretary

Paul Rivett
Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

Eric Salsberg
Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Ronald Schokking
Vice President and Treasurer

Greg Taylor
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

V. Prem Watsa
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Jane Williamson
Vice President

Head Office

95 Wellington Street West
Suite 800
Toronto, 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 Listing

Toronto Stock Exchange
Stock Symbol: FFH and FFH.U

Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of shareholders of
Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited will be
held on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.
(Toronto time) at Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe Street, Toronto, Canada