Specialty insurer Kingsway Financial Services Inc. has filed a preliminary short form prospectus with securities regulators in Canada and the U.S. for a proposed public offering of common shares.

It is anticipated that the offering will be for approximately $75 million plus an over-allotment of 15%.

The common shares will be sold in the United States and Canada through a group of underwriters led by CIBC World Markets and Scotia Capital. The syndicate also includes Advest, Inc. and Raymond James & Associates.