Specialty insurer, Kingsway Financial Services Inc., has filed a preliminary short form prospectus for a proposed public offering of common shares.

The offering covers the issuance of 10 million common shares and up to an additional 1.5 million common shares for over-allotments.

Kingsway’s common shares are currently listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company says it intends to apply for a listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

The common shares will be sold in the United States and Canada through Banc of America Securities LLC, the managing underwriter, and HSBC Securities, together with a syndicate to be formed.