Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holdings has entered into an agreement with Zurich Insurance Company to acquire 100% of its South African and Botswana operations, Zurich Insurance Company South Africa (ZISCA).

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including various regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the end of the fourth quarter of 2016.

Operating in South Africa and Botswana, with strategic investments in Swaziland and Mauritius, ZICSA was founded in 1965 and has over 800 employees.

ZICSA represents an expansion of Fairfax's commercial insurance presence in Africa and follows its purchase of a 7.15% stake in Africa Re in 2015.

Prem Watsa, Chairman and CEO of Fairfax, said: "We are pleased to have ZICSA join the Fairfax group. It is a high-quality and well-known regional business, with an outstanding management team led by Edwyn O'Neill.”

“Africa is a continent that represents a long-term growth opportunity for Fairfax, but where we have traditionally done little primary commercial insurance business. This acquisition represents a key step in expanding our presence in this important market,” he said.

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

Fairfax’s corporate objective is to achieve a high rate of return on invested capital and build long-term shareholder value.

Fairfax was founded in 1985 by the present Chairman and CEO, Prem Watsa.

The company has been under present management since 1985 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.