Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. swung to a fourth-quarter profit, as the quarter did not see the same losses that the insurance holding company suffered during the 2005 hurricane season.

Fairfax yesterday posted net income of US$159.1 million, or US$8.45 a share for the three months ended Dec. 31. That compared with a loss of US$308.1 million , or US$17.51 a share, a year earlier.

Fairfax’s insurance and reinsurance operations generated favourable underwriting results in 2006, notwithstanding the anticipated continued broad softening in 2006 in commercial insurance and reinsurance classes and lines of business other than certain catastrophe-exposed commercial property markets. The combined ratios of Fairfax’s insurance and reinsurance operations were 88.4% and 95.5% for the fourth quarter and 2006 year, respectively, compared to 112.7% and 107.7% for the fourth quarter and 2005 year, respectively (prior to giving effect to the 2005 hurricane losses, the 2005 fourth quarter and fiscal year combined ratios were 92.0% and 93.7%, respectively).

Fairfax’s insurance and reinsurance operations produced an aggregate underwriting profit of $198.2 million in 2006, compared to an aggregate underwriting loss of US$333.9 million in 2005.

The improved underwriting results and significantly increased investment income, combined with major initiatives including the company’s OdysseyRe secondary offering and the commutation of the Swiss Re corporate insurance cover, allowed Fairfax to strengthen its financial position during 2006.

Corporate liquidity remained strong, and Fairfax ended 2006 with US$767.4 million of cash, short term investments and marketable securities at the holding company level, increased from US$559 million at the end of 2005. Holding company debt decreased by US$210.1 million during the year to US$1,399.7 million, and Fairfax’s debt maturity profile remained largely unchanged, with no significant debt maturities until 2012.

Prem Watsa, Chairman and CEO, commented, “During 2006, our operating insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries performed well and generated significant underwriting profits, while in our runoff units we continued to make solid progress in reducing claims and containing costs. Our investment performance was gratifying given the conservative positioning of our investment portfolio. We successfully undertook several measures to significantly strengthen our balance sheet and to bolster our liquidity. We enter 2007 with improved financial strength, disciplined and underwriting-focused operating teams at our insurance and reinsurance companies, effective and economical management of our runoff units and very conservative investment portfolios.