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Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited: Fairfax Files Final Universal Shelf Prospectus

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^{Published in Business and Finance on Monday, August 31st 2009 at 14:15 GMT by Market Wire}  

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 31, 2009) - Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (TSX:FFH)(NYSE:FFH) has filed a final short form base shelf prospectus with securities regulatory authorities. The shelf prospectus allows Fairfax to offer from time to time over a 25-month period up to US$1.0 billion of debt, equity or other securities. Should Fairfax offer any securities, it will make a prospectus supplement available that will include the specific terms of the securities being offered. In connection with the filing of the final short form base shelf prospectus, Fairfax has withdrawn its previously existing base shelf prospectus dated April 25, 2008.

A copy of the short form base shelf prospectus filed may be obtained from Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, Paul Rivett, Chief Legal Officer at (416) 367-4941, 95 Wellington Street West, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2N7 or electronically at [ www.sedar.com ].

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

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