We continue to own 23% (46.6 million shares) of HRG Group (HRG, Financial) acquired between September 2013 and November 2014 at an average cost of $10.21 per share versus a $13.56 per share stock price at year-end 2015. Our incredible Chairman, Joe Steinberg, serves as Chairman of HRG and is on the Boards of its major business units. The vast majority of HRG Group’s value is accounted for by its ownership in Spectrum Brands (58%) and Fidelity & Guaranty Life (81%). Spectrum, a diversified global branded consumer products company, had its sixth consecutive year of record financial performance growing adjusted free cash flow from $359 million in 2014 to $454 million in 2015. With the May 21, 2015 acquisition of Armored AutoGroup, which includes brands Armor All and STP, Spectrum is now a player in the global auto care market and expects to grow free cash flow to $505 million in 2016. On November 8, 2015, Fidelity agreed to be acquired by Anbang Insurance Group for $1.57 billion, or $26.80 per share, a 29% premium over Fidelity’s unaffected stock price. The sale is expected to be completed in the second quarter, with a substantial portion of HRG’s proceeds from the sale expected to be used to pay down debt at HRG. We believe that this sale of Fidelity, combined with the additional sale of other assets, may help to close the ongoing gap between HRG’s share price and the sum of the value of its various parts.
From Leucadia National (Trades, Portfolio)'s 2015 annual letter.
