19 Dec 2016 Fairfax to Acquire Switzerland’s Allied World in $4.9 Billion Deal ( Portfolio ) Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. is in discussions to raise as much as $2.7 billion from investors to partner in its $4.9 billion cash-and-stock agreement to acquire Allied World Assurance Co. Prem Watsa, chairman and chief executive of Toronto-based Fairfax, said in an interview that he has approached a variety of sovereign wealth and pension funds to increase the cash portion of its offer, which is currently valued at $54 a share.