TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 8, 2008) - Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (TSX:FFH)(NYSE:FFH) announces that it has today made a public tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Polskie Towarzystwo Reasekuracji Spolka Akcyjna ("PTR") at a price of 1.60 Polish zlotys ("PLN") per share.

The offer values PTR at PLN 168.3 million (approximately US$72 million). Fairfax has received commitments to tender to the offer from shareholders holding approximately 47% of the shares of PTR. The offer is conditional upon receipt of a number of regulatory approvals in Poland and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2009.

"We look forward to being a significant PTR shareholder and to working with the President and Chief Executive Officer, Marek Czerski, and his management team. We are excited about future prospects for the Central and Eastern European economies in which PTR is active. This investment will increase Fairfax's exposure to the region and will provide a long-term platform for expansion," said Prem Watsa, Fairfax's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited
Greg Taylor
Chief Financial Officer
(416) 367-4941