News
AIG among first to show heavy impact of WTC losses on 3-quarter results
October 29, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterAmerican International Group Inc.’s property and casualty insurance business produced a massive 80% drop in pretax earnings to US$201.5 million for the third-quarter of 2001 compared with US$868.3 million for the same period a year prior. The decline in pretax…
Lloyd’s gains reprieve on WTC claim payment deadline
October 29, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterLloyd’s of London gained a last-minute reprieve from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the New York Insurance Department on its deadline for full payment of claims relating to the September 11 terrorist attacks.Lloyd’s had initially been given…
Atlantic insurers back new treatment for domestic oil tanks
October 26, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterFaced with escalating losses arising from toxic spills associated with domestic oil tanks in the Atlantic provinces, insurers have backed a new treatment process that is expected to significantly reduce corrosion and the potential of leaks.Insurers operating in Atlantic Canada…
S&P joins call for government-backed terrorism pool
October 24, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterRating agency Standard & Poor’s has joined the voices of insurance industry bodies calling for the creation of a federal government-backed reinsurance pool for terrorism covers.In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, several insurer associations and regulation bodies…
Lloyd’s liquidity boosted by regulators’ decision
October 23, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterA recent decision by U.S. regulators not to require Lloyd’s members to fully fund the market’s reinsurance trust will ease some of the pressure on the market’s liquidity, says rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P). However, insurers have reacted with…
Swiss Re seeks judgement on WTC claims
October 23, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterGlobal reinsurer Swiss Re is taking the offensive against World Trade Center (WTC) lessee Larry Silverstein, asking the court to have the September 11 attacks on the building classified as one insured event.The move follows Silverstein’s statements to the press…
IBC helps recover more than $16 million in stolen vehicles last year
October 22, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterIn the last fiscal year (July 2000 to June 2001) the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has played a part in the recovery of 666 vehicles nationwide, valued at more than $16 million. The IBC’s Investigative Services Division (ISD) adds…
Allstate earnings hard hit
October 19, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterU.S. insurer Allstate is among the first to report post-September 11 results, and the picture is not a pretty one. Not only was the company hit with exposures from the September 11 attacks, to the tune of US$32 million. But…
Rating agency predicts “worst year ever” for insurers
October 19, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterRating agency Fitch is predicting 2001 will be the worst underwriting year ever for p&C insurers, largely as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks. In a new report, Fitch notes that the industy will likely post its worst…
Lloyd’s issues $1.78 billion cash call to members
October 18, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterIn light of almost Cdn$3 billion (1.3 billion pounds) in losses from the U.S. terrorist attacks, Lloyd’s of London is making a cash call on members for $1.78 billion (780 million pounds). Money will be used to help pay claims…
Conning report suggests terrorism exclusions on the way
October 18, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterA new report from analysts Conning and Company says U.S. property and casualty insurers will begin pricing “terrorist attack risk” separate from other coverage in light of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The report also suggests that maximum probable loss…
Personal injury fraud a $500 million problem, says study
October 17, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterA newly-released study suggests personal injury fraud could be costing Canadian insurers more than $500 million each year. The study, commissioned by the Canadian Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CCAIF), estimates that last year insurers paid over $500 million for personal…