What’s New: In Brief (December 07, 2009)

The Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) has launched a program to audit compliance with the use of the Fichier central des sinistres automobiles (FCSA), an automobile claims database.
The new program will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2010.
Established in 1990, the FCSA contains information on all automobile insurance claims made by Québec drivers within the past six years, regardless of location of loss and type of claim.
The database allows insurers to view their clients’ automobile claims history so that they can set fair premiums. 
To ensure that insurers and damage insurance firms do not use the FCSA for any other purpose — including the investigation or settlement of claims, or to solicit clients — the AMF has granted an inspection mandate to the Groupement des assureurs automobiles (GAA).

Aon Risk Services has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Allied North America, one of the largest independent surety and construction insurance brokerage firms in the United States.
Closing is expected by year’s end.
The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.