Topic Construction
Why benefits, retirement and wealth planning are now P&C profit centres
October 14, 2022 by Philip PoradoRecent merger deals announced by Canadian commercial P&C brokerages increasingly feature acquisitions of wealth management and employee benefits firms, and this is no accident, brokers tell Canadian Underwriter. This subset of M&A is about P&C brokerages becoming a type of…
Westland partners with American association for equipment, event rental coverage
October 6, 2022 by Jason ContantWestland Insurance Group and the American Rental Association (ARA) have announced an exclusive partnership to deliver insurance solutions to ARA members across Canada. ARA is an international trade association for owners of equipment and event rental operations, as well as…
How do truck owners calculate downtime claims?
October 5, 2022 by Kevin Thomas and Tony MilitelloWhen a business’ profits are dependent on having a truck or fleet of trucks fully operational, any downtime can lead to lost profits. For that reason, many purchase optional coverage and can make claims if a vehicle is inoperable due…
How Hurricane Ian will strain insurers’ capacity
October 3, 2022 by Philip PoradoHurricane Ian’s Florida landfall last week and subsequent return to the Carolinas means it’s shaping up to be one of the costliest storms in U.S. history. But, while the storm that arrived on the heels of Hurricane Fiona caused massive…
How reinsurers view the rise of MGAs: a flash in the pan, or sustainable?
October 3, 2022 by David GambrillGlobal reinsurers are looking at the current rise of managing general agencies (MGAs) with a critical eye, questioning whether the phenomenon will be long-lasting, or simply a fad rooted in a hard-market demand for capacity. “At the risk of sounding…
How a building owner should respond when a contractor’s hit by inflation
September 29, 2022 by Derek SayersHow can you prevent construction claims stemming from disputes over project costs that rise due to inflation? For construction project owners, the simplest way to control escalating costs may appear to be sticking to the contract price. The contractor bid…
Which firm racked up 8 mergers over the summer?
September 28, 2022 by Canadian Underwriter StaffBrokerage M&A has been hectic so far in 2022, with one firm bringing eight brokerages across Canada under its wing during the summer. Navacord today announced it closed eight acquisitions during July and August that expands the company’s presence in…
How rising interest rates impact insurers’ investment decisions
September 23, 2022 by Philip PoradoRecent interest rate hikes aimed at curbing inflation, and the potential for more rate hikes next year, has the insurance industry keeping an eye on its investment returns. But while the transition from a low-interest-rate environment to a higher-rate environment…
Why insurers are rethinking coverage for older machinery
September 22, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoAging machinery and equipment are historically slow to get replaced. Add supply chain disruptions into the mix, and businesses with equipment breakdown coverage could be waiting longer for replacement parts or products, said Doug Laurin, director of national energy and…
Climate change effect on public transportation infrastructure to cost billions: financial watchdog
September 22, 2022 by The Canadian PressTORONTO – Ontario’s financial watchdog says the effects of climate change are projected to cost the province an extra $1.5 billion a year on average in the next few years just to maintain public transportation infrastructure. A report released today…
Lessons from COVID-19 will help brokers get clients through a recession
September 9, 2022 by David GambrillIf a long-predicted recession comes to pass, brokers will need to stay close to their clients’ changing needs. But in some ways, commercial insurance brokers have gained an advantage from the discipline developed while navigating their clients through COVID-19. Those…
How de-globalization will generate $33 billion in commercial premiums
September 9, 2022 by David GambrillCountries are starting to restructure their supply chains, a ‘de-globalizing’ phenomenon that could generate $33 billion in new global commercial P&C insurance premiums over the next four years, Swiss Re predicted. In one example, ‘re-shoring’ supply chains means moving commercial…