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Fairfax
Three reasons Fairfax predicts a continuing hard market
November 5, 2021 by Greg MeckbachAs carriers continue taking a good hard look at their risk appetites, price increases could continue well into 2022. “We expect market conditions to remain strong throughout 2021 and well into 2022,” said Peter Clarke, chief operating officer of Toronto-based…
How Fairfax is reserving for COVID-19 business interruption reinsurance charges
August 4, 2021 by Greg MeckbachThe uncertainty around business interruption insurance coverage and the impact of a United Kingdom Supreme Court are among the reasons Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings has put aside more than US$80 million this year in COVID-19 reserves. Fairfax reported July 29…
Fairfax takes a stand against using COVID as a reason to fire staff
May 3, 2021 by Greg MeckbachThe parent company of Northbridge Insurance took a stand against cutting staff due to the pandemic. “One of the things we did last year is we said [to the president of each Fairfax-owned insurer], ‘You cannot use COVID-19 as a…
How much COVID business interruption claims could cost Fairfax
February 17, 2021 by Greg MeckbachBusiness interruption claims arising from the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to cost Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. nearly Cdn$300 million. Toronto-based Fairfax released Feb. 11 its financial results for 2020, reporting US$669 million in COVID-19 losses across all of its insurers.…
Who’s heading Fairfax’s effort to improve opportunities for the Black community
November 5, 2020 by Greg MeckbachCraig Pinnock, chief financial officer of Toronto-based Northbridge Insurance, is heading the Black Initiatives Action Committee for Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., Northbridge’s corporate parent. The Black Initiatives Action Committee has one representative of the Black community from each of the…
Fairfax welcomes back former Canadian governor general to its board
October 5, 2020 by Greg MeckbachFairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. announced Monday that former Governor General of Canada David Johnston is back on its board of directors. Johnston had to step down from the Fairfax board when he became Governor General of Canada in 2010, the…
Why the hard market reminds Fairfax CEO of 2001
August 14, 2020 by Greg MeckbachSteep price increases that have hit brokers’ commercial clients will not continue for the long term, but the current hard market is reminiscent of the period after Sept. 11, 2001, when two planes destroyed the World Trade Centre in New…
The thinking behind the latest OMERS P&C insurer deal
May 5, 2020 by Greg MeckbachBy selling a good chunk of its runoff business to one of Canada’s largest pension plans, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. is allowing that business to buy discontinued Lloyd’s books while still allowing Fairfax to invest in its other insurers, CEO…
Hard market to continue with COVID-19: Fairfax
April 20, 2020 by Greg MeckbachNorthbridge Insurance’s premiums are up 20% compared to early 2019 and hard market conditions will continue, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. officials said Thursday. “The hard market conditions that we have been experiencing through 2019 and into the first quarter of…
Fairfax’s Watsa unruffled by pandemic, one of three “black swan” events in 2020
April 17, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe COVID-19 pandemic was one of three “black swans” to hit the industry so far in 2020 but despite the uncertainty and panic, things will return to normal, suggests Prem Watsa, CEO of Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. “The U.S.…
Fairfax predicts court’s reaction to legislated retroactive BI policy changes
April 16, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIf laws get passed retroactively changing business interruption policy wording so that pandemic losses now get covered, insurers will likely launch legal challenges that will be looked at by high court judges, Fairfax Financial CEO Prem Watsa suggests. During Fairfax’s…
Is the end in sight for commercial rate increases?
February 25, 2020 by Greg MeckbachCommercial rate increases gradually became steeper in 2019 and should continue like this for some time, says Prem Watsa, chairman and CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. Toronto-based Fairfax, the parent company of Northbridge Financial, recently reported a 21.6% increase…