On November 21, 2011, Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:TRH, “Transatlantic”) agreed to combine with Alleghany Corporation (NYSE:Y, “Alleghany”) creating an industry leader in U.S. excess and surplus lines and global specialty reinsurance with significant underwriting diversification by product and geography at an implied valuation of $59.79 per Transatlantic share, or approximately $3.4 billion. Transatlantic initially announced a merger transaction with Allied World on June 12, 2011. Subsequent to this annoucement, Transatlantic received an unsolicited acquisition proposal from Validus Holdings (NYSE:VR, “Validus”) and an all-cash offer from Berkshire Hathaway. Transatlantic terminated the merger agreement with Allied World on September 16, 2011 and began active discussions with several potential bidders. Moelis & Company acted as financial advisor to Transatlantic and was integral in negotiating an exchange ratio and cash consideration that represents a 36% premium to Transatlantic’s closing stock price on June 10, 2011, the last trading day before public announcement of the since-terminated merger agreement with Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG (NYSE:AWH, “Allied World”), and a premium of 10% to the Transatlantic closing stock price on November 18, 2011. The transaction successfully closed in March 2012.
