Date Closed

December 8, 2020

Lead Office

Toronto

On December 8, 2020, Fairfax Africa Holdings Corporation (Fairfax Africa) announced that it had completed its definitive agreement with Helios Holdings Limited and certain affiliates (Helios Holdings Group) pursuant to which Helios Holdings Group contributed certain economic streams (from the management and performance fees arising from current and future Helios funds) to Fairfax Africa in exchange for a 45.9% equity and voting interest in the pro forma share capital of Fairfax Africa.

Upon closing of the transaction, Fairfax Africa was renamed Helios Fairfax Partners Corporation (HFP) and continues to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. A member of the Helios Holdings Group was appointed sole investment advisor to HFP. A special committee of Fairfax Africa's board of directors unanimously approved the transaction.

Fairfax Africa, based in Toronto, is a TSX-listed investment holding company that focuses exclusively on investing in African businesses.

Helios Holdings Limited, based in London, UK, is the largest Africa-focused private investment firm. 

McCarthy Tetrault advised Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and Fairfax Africa with a team led by Deandra Schubert that includes Jeremy Pleasant, Victoria de Luna and Haiya Peng (Corporate); Shevaun McGrath (Private Equity); Sean Sadler (Securities Regulatory); Stefanie Morand, Doug Cannon, Robert Nearing, and Kabir Jamal (Tax); Oliver Borgers (Competition/Foreign Investment); Kate McNeill-Keller (Labour & Employment); Carmen Francis (International Trade & Investment Law); and Ian Mak (Financial Services).