Fairfax Financial To Acquire Zenith National Insurance For $38.00 Per Share In Cash

Prem Watsa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax, said: “We are very pleased to announce this transaction and look forward to working together with Zenith and its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Zax, to complete the merger as soon as possible. Our agreement to acquire Zenith reflects our strategy of investing in well-managed and well-positioned insurance companies.” Mr. Watsa added, “Zenith has an outstanding long-term underwriting track record spanning over thirty years under Stanley’s leadership. Following the successful completion of the transaction, there will be no changes in Zenith’s strategic or operating philosophy. Zenith will continue to operate its business as it has always been run under Stanley’s excellent leadership, with investment management centralized at Fairfax. All other Fairfax group companies will continue to operate independently on a decentralized basis.”

Stanley Zax, Zenith’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “We believe the transaction will benefit our key constituents and enable our shareholders to realize compelling value for their investment in Zenith. I am very proud of the employees, agents, management and directors at Zenith in creating one of the most successful specialty workers’ compensation companies. We admire Fairfax's accomplishments in creating an extremely successful insurance and reinsurance business and are delighted to become part of the Fairfax family.”

Shearman & Sterling LLP is acting as legal counsel to Fairfax. Torys LLP is acting as Canadian legal counsel to Fairfax.

BofA Merrill Lynch is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Zenith and Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is acting as legal counsel to Zenith.

Background

Fairfax is a financial services holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investment management.

Zenith National Insurance Corp., a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1971, is a holding company engaged, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Zenith Insurance Company and ZNAT Insurance Company, in the workers' compensation insurance business, nationally.